At approximately 2:30pm Batemans Bay Marine Rescue was called to tow a partially submerged 4.5-metre tinny just east of the bridge.

The three people on board were a 37-year-old male, a 31-year-old female and a three year old child.

A spokesman said there were too many people and too much equipment on board the small boat.

“They had an esky and three people on board and got swamped by a small wave and over-turned,” he said.

“It didn’t completely sink but was floating just below the surface.”

The tinny was towed to shore just east of the bridge.

A paddle boarder came to their aid before the Marine rescue arrived. 

The spokesman said the skipper of the boat, who was breath-tested by police, was shaken up but fortunately the child was wearing a life jacket and no-one was injured.

Nobody was charged in relation to the incident.