Fisherman rescued from channel marker Corio Bay

Water police have rescued a fisherman from a channel marker after his boat sank in Corio Bay last night, Victoria Police say.

It is believed the man was operating his boat between Point Wilson and Portarlington when it struck an unlit beacon and began to take on water.

The skipper and sole occupant of the vessel, a 56-year old Geelong man, decided to head back to Geelong, however his boat sank just after 11pm.

The man activated an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and swam to a nearby shipping channel marker before climbing up inside of it.

Victoria Police received notification of an activated EPIRB about 11.15pm and the police helicopter was dispatched to investigate.

The fisherman was located by Air490 perched inside the channel marker and was eventually rescued by water police about 12.45am.

He was brought back to shore and taken to hospital as a precaution; his boat is yet to be recovered.

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