LAKE MACQUARIE PAIR RESCUED AFTER NIGHT IN ROUGH SEAS

Two people have been rescued after spending the night in their damaged yacht on rough seas off the NSW north coast.

The 72-year-old man and 32-year-old woman from Lake Macquarie activated their emergency distress beacon at around midnight near Cape Byron after experiencing problems with the engine and damage to the mast.

The boat was also taking on water in the 12 metre swell.

Two helicopters spotted the vessel and the pair was airlifted and treated for hypothermia and fatigue.