Three men rescued after sharks attack inflatable boat

Three sailors have been rescued in the Coral Sea after their inflatable boat came under attack from sharks.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority responded to an emergency distress call at 1.30am on Wednesday for a nine-metre catamaran about 800 kilometres south-east of Cairns.

The two Russian men and a French man aboard the vessel had left Vanuatu on their way to Cairns when their boat began to sink following damage to both hulls from shark attacks, the authority said.

Cargo ship the Dugong Ace helped retrieve the trio before Cairns-based Challenger Rescue Aircraft arrived at the scene.

The men were expected to arrive in Brisbane on Thursday.

– AAP