A volunteer crew on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Sussex Inlet 20 responded to a distressed vessel with three people on board near Bream Beach on Saturday 5 October.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan said reports were received a 4-5 metre runabout was getting swamped by large waves after attempting to get off a sand bar. “Sussex Inlet 20 was deployed just after 4.30pm yesterday following a request for assistance from NSW Police Marine Area Command.
“The SI 20 crew headed to the location and found the vessel.
“The three people on board the boat had managed to make their way to the nearby beach,” Inspector Sullivan said.
With the distressed vessel located in very shallow waters, it was difficult for SI 20 to get close to the vessel.
“As the water was too shallow for SI 20 to get to the vessel, a volunteer crew member waded to shore with the tow rope.
“He assisted to get the vessel seaworthy and safely secured to the tow rope.
“This enabled the distressed vessel to be pulled alongside SI 20.“Two of the boaters remained on the vessel for the journey to Erowal Bay, with the third person taken on board SI 20.” Inspector Sullivan said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.