Volunteers from Marine Rescue Terrigal have retrieved six paddlers from waters off Spoon Bay on the state’s Central Coast after their outrigger began filling with water and capsized this morning.
Marine Rescue Terrigal Deputy Unit Commander Darren Wright said volunteers at the unit were notified just before 8am this morning when a member of the Taragal Outrigger Club informed Marine Rescue NSW volunteers of concerns about an overdue outrigger crew.
“We were told their location could possibly be north of Terrigal Haven.
“Marine Rescue NSW vessel Terrigal 30 was immediately tasked and deployed for the search and rescue mission in lumpy and windy conditions,” he said.
The rapid response by Marine Rescue Terrigal led to the paddlers being located within 10 minutes of Terrigal 30 departing base.
“The paddlers who were all wearing lifejackets were approximately 300 metres off Spoon Bay and when we arrived their outrigger was filled with water, soon after it capsized,” Deputy Unit Commander Wright said.
“The Terrigal 30 crew retrieved all six paddlers and took them on the board the Marine Rescue NSW vessel for assessment.
“We provided them with space blankets and three of the paddlers were showing signs of hypothermia.
“We called NSW Ambulance to meet us at Terrigal Haven.
“The six paddlers were safely returned to shore and assessed by paramedics,” Deputy Unit Commander Wright 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.
