Two mayday calls have sparked an ongoing air search off the coast of Wollongong, with an unmanned dinghy discovered a short time ago.
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Crew aboard the Toll rescue chopper spotted the dinghy about 30kms east of Wollongong about 5.30pm Friday.
This came after two mayday calls, received at about 3.40pm.
Marine Rescue recorded the calls; a spokesman said most of the transmission was garbled.
Early reports are that it is a small aluminium vessel, with no identifying markers, empty of belongings.
The chopper is now being used to carry out a search in the five nautical miles surrounding the boat.
Update, 6.15pm: The search continues and has been joined by a fixed wing aircraft.
Update, 6.35pm: The Toll chopper is returning to land; the fixed wing continues circling the search area. This as a severe thunderstorm approaches the Illawarra.
More to come.