Men found clinging to Esky after boat sank
Two men were hoisted to safety by a rescue helicopter this morning after spending 15 hours clinging to an Esky after their boat overturned off the NSW north coast.
The men are recovering in hospital after the ordeal, which began when their boat started to sink on Friday while cruising between Ballina and Evans Head.
A search was sparked after NSW water police received a mayday advising a vessel had begun taking on water.
But a helicopter search of the area before last light failed to find the vessel or the men.
After refuelling, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter used night vision goggles to search an area further south. The search was called off around midnight.
It recommenced this morning at first light and the pair's submerged boat was found shortly afterwards.
They were spotted nearby wearing life jackets and clinging to a large white Esky about 6.30am.
We got a couple of waves from them, they looked pretty exhausted though," rescue crewman Jethro Lampie told Nine News. "They had been in the water holding onto this object for about 15 hours."
"There weren't too lively but were happy to see us."
The men were winched to safety and taken to the Lismore Base Hospital where they remain in a stable condition.
The pair suffered shock and exposure but were both in stable conditions, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter service said in a statement.
Speaking outside the hospital, emergency physician Richard Mahoney said the pair had responded well to treatment and were likely to be discharged later today.
"They have had a pretty big night but are both doing fine," he said.
"They have had a good breakfast and it looks as if everything is going to be fine. They are very happy."
@serendipityricho wrote:Sock-a good news story!
Jimmys pic of the nopefish reminded me to ask around and see how the ex missus is going.
------Richo-----
HAHAHAHAHA, Richo! maaaaate! 
Biting fish injure more than 70 bathers in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A swarm of biting fish injured more than 70 people who were bathing at a popular beach in Argentina on Christmas, a medical official said on Thursday.
A seven-year-old girl had her finger partially amputated and dozens more suffered bite wounds on their extremities from the fish, a relative of the piranha called "palometas," said Federico Cornier, the director of emergency services in the city of Rosario.
"This is not normal," Cornier said on television. "It's normal for there to be an isolated bite or injury, but the magnitude in this case was great ... this is an exceptional event."
The attack happened off the popular beaches of the Parana River near Rosario, 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of Buenos Aires, where many Argentines were seeking relief from a heat wave over the holiday.
