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Pair rescued after yacht caught in rough seas on Great Barrier Reef

Two people have been rescued after their yacht broke down on the Great Barrier Reef early Thursday morning.

The sailors put out a distress call over the radio after the engine failed on their 13.5 metre yacht and only one sail was in working order.

A LifeFlight rescue helicopter dispatched about 7am found the vessel near Lady Elliot Island, north-east of Bundaberg, within the hour.

"They were struggling to deal with rough seas and strong winds that kept pushing them back out. They were very concerned," LifeFlight pilot Michael Thomas said.

The Bundaberg Volunteer Marine Rescue towed the yacht and transported the sailors, who were not hurt, to shore.

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