Three rescued after catamaran runs aground near Cow and Calf Rocks off Windy Harbour coast near Denmark

Three people have been rescued after their catamaran was left wrecked when it ran aground in rough seas off the remote WA south coast.

The drama unfolded when a 12m catamaran got grounded in shallow water in harsh conditions, with winds up to 60km/h and seas of 3m.

The three people on board activated a distress beacon around 5am on Monday after the front of the catamaran was completely ripped off.

The Bunbury based RAC Rescue helicopter was deployed to Cow and Calf Rocks, off the coast of Windy Harbour — about two hours west of Denmark — after the Australian Maritime Safety Authority received the distress signal.

AMSA’s Perth-based Challenger rescue aircraft was also dispatched and a marine rescue vessel from Windy Harbour.

An EPIRB and personal locator beacons aboard the vessel meant the precise position of the catamaran could be monitored, with the chopper arriving on the scene first.

Footage from the rescue showed a paramedic in full dive gear being winched down to the water as the helicopter hovers over the boat.

The critical care paramedic was hoisted down to check on the occupants’ welfare. St John WA confirmed that no one was injured in the ordeal.

It took four hours for the catamaran to be towed 21-nautical miles due to rough conditions.

AMSA said that the vessel’s location equipment was crucial to the successful rescue.

“Given the remoteness of the incident, the crew of the catamaran demonstrated exceptional preparedness carrying three different distress beacons, all of which contributed to their successful rescue,” it said.