Marine Rescue Kioloa crew completes early evening rescue off Pebbly Beach

A volunteer crew from Marine Rescue Kioloa has safely returned two fishermen to shore after their runabout suffered battery failure off Pebbly Beach on the South Coast on the afternoon of Tuesday 28 May.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said Marine Rescue Kioloa received a call for assistance just after 4pm.

“A volunteer crew was immediately assembled and rescue vessel Kioloa 20 was deployed.

“KL 20 reached the disabled vessel and its crew around 4:45pm and secured the boat under tow for the 4.5 nautical mile (8km) trip back to Kioloa.

“The two anglers and their vessel were safely returned to the boat ramp at Kioloa Beach at 6pm,” he said.

Inspector Massey said whilst the rescue was a standard mission for the Service the response provided some challenges for the volunteer crew on board KL 20.

“The rescue was completed in the dark and with the large number of whales migrating there are hazards in the water that are incredibly hard to see.

“Marine Rescue NSW is reminding all boaters to be on the alert for whales when on the water during the day or night and maintain the proper distances from whales,” Inspector Massey said.

Volunteer radio operators from Marine Rescue Ulladulla played a vital role in this evening’s mission by providing radio communications for the response.

Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.