Volunteers from Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes have retrieved a distressed swimmer from Budgewoi Lake after receiving a call around 8:30am today.
Marine Rescue NSW vessel Tuggerah Lakes 20 was deployed for the search and rescue mission following reports a swimmer was struggling in the water approximately 400 metres off the Beachcomber Hotel.
The person in distress was reached by an off duty paramedic who was paddling on the Lake minutes before Tuggerah Lakes 20 arrived on scene.
A man suffering from suspected hypothermia and fatigue was taken on board Tuggerah Lakes 20 and transported to waiting paramedics at the Marine Rescue Toukley base.
The man was then transported by NSW Ambulance to Wyong Hospital for treatment.
Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes Unit Commander Bob Sutton commended the paddler for assisting the man before TL 20 arrived.
“The paddler did an incredible job before the distressed swimmer was taken on board the Marine Rescue NSW vessel.
“TL 20 skipper Steve Corbett and his crew Bruce Lorking and trainee Brad Drew responded swiftly after the alert was raised.
“We believe the swimmer had been in the water for an extended period of time,” he said.
Unit Commander Sutton was working in the radio room during the time of the rescue, which was supported by radio operators from Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes.
“The Entrance and Toukley radio rooms managed communications with Roslyn Kelton and Don Hobbs providing vital assistance,” Unit Commander Sutton 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.
