Sick dugong evades rescue as air force on standby

The health of the marine animal, first seen in Merimbula in NSW, is deteriorating after failed attempts to rescue it and airlift it back to Queensland

A dugong struggling in waters hundreds of kilometres south of its Queensland home has escaped capture, with the RAAF's Hercules aircraft on standby to airlift it to safety.

It was first seen in Merimbula in southern New South Wales on 18 November and its health had been closely monitored since.