Northern Territory Police have located two people who failed to return from a fishing trip at Elcho Island on Wednesday.
The man and woman had left Galiwinku on Tuesday 29 December to go fishing. They were reported overdue to police on Wednesday night.
A search of the area - involving both fixed wing and helicopter, Police vessels and the Gumurr Marthakal Rangers - located the pair's vessel abandoned in Buckingham Bay on the mainland.
Around lunchtime yesterday, Water Police located the pair approximately 20km from their boat, headed in the direction of Elcho Island. They were returned to Elcho Island in good health. Their vessel had suffered a mechanical break down and without communications or safety equipment, they were forced to walk to safety.
"These people were lucky - without the right safety equipment on board, the outcome could have been far worse," said Senior Constable First Class Stuart Winter.
"Anybody taking to the waters should ensure they have emergency equipment and supplies including food and water, safety gear and a registered EPIRB that will pinpoint your location and make a rescue much easier. It's also important to tell someone where you're going, and when you expect to be back."
