MAKING WAVES Illawarra News
Three lost in emergencies off Illawarra coast Port Kembla, Shellharbour crews thanked for compassionate response.
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rews from MR Port Kembla launched searches under darkness in response to two separate emergencies when members of the public reported hearing calls for help from the water. A major air and sea search was mounted by NSW Police, MR Port Kembla, the Toll Ambulance Helicopter and Surf Life Saving on June 6 when screams were heard near Bulli Point. A runabout with four people on board had capsized about 6.20pm. The helicopter pulled two men, aged 31 and 23, from the water about 8pm, transporting them to Wollongong Hospital, while the search continued for a missing boy, aged five, and a man, 28. The crew of Port Kembla 30 towed the runabout back to harbour about 10pm, where Police Divers found the small boy’s body. Three crews from MR Port Kembla and Shellharbour joined the
ongoing operation the next morning, searching up to 6nm offshore from Bellambi to Austinmer. The crew of Shellharbour 30 recovered the man’s body about 1.10pm. Director of Operations Andrew Cribb and Illawarra Regional Operations Manager Bruce Mitchell held a critical incident debrief with both crews the following day. “This was a terrible tragedy and we are holding the families of this very small boy and the man who also died in our thoughts today,” Mr Cribb said. “Operations in traumatic circumstances such as this also take a heavy toll on the members of the emergency services who respond and we thank not only our own members but all those who worked professionally and compassionately to rescue the two men on Saturday night and return the two victims to their families.” The alarm was raised in similar circumstances about 6.30pm on
MR Port Kembla’s Graeme McCrudden, Trevor Brownlee and UC Kevin Bradley debrief with ROM Bruce Mitchell (third from left).
April 16, when people heard a man yelling from Rocky Island at Port Kembla. This was followed by reports of a second man and a capsized boat in the water. PK 30 was quickly on the scene, along with police, the Toll helicopter and the State Emergency Service. The man was located on the island about 7.30pm and airlifted to safety. The search for the missing man
was suspended at 10.30pm before resuming the next day, when police located the 68-year-old’s body. The uncle and nephew had been fishing but their boat capsized as they returned to the boat ramp. Family member Matt Campbell thanked the Port Kembla rescue crew online: “Thanks for your efforts today and always, (love) the Campbell family.”
Wind, reefs cause chaos and fear on water
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hile MR Sussex Inlet activities have been curtailed during the pandemic, operations responding to rash catamaran sailors and a fearful boater highlighted the need for caution on local waterways. The Sussex Inlet base was closed for a month and our vessel operations restricted to call outs for assistance and emergencies. Boating activity was moderate but our crews still responded to nine incidents, including searches for vessels reported adrift, mechanical failures, help crossing the sand bar and overturned catamarans. Only brave sailors try their luck on St Georges Basin while ignoring forecasts of high winds. On one afternoon alone, three catamarans flipped and were unable to be righted. Sussex 20 towed one back to our base and the other two were
helped by nearby boaters. Our crews’ detailed knowledge of our local waterways enabled us to assist a vessel with two people on board that needed our help to approach and cross the sand bar from Wreck Bay into Sussex Inlet. The boat was located seaward of the barrier islands to the south of the river entrance. The two islands have a rocky reef between them and another stretching from the southern island to the mainland. On this occasion, the boater requested a tow as he was afraid to cross the reef between the island and headland and then the bar. SI 20 took the vessel under tow, travelling to the east and counter clockwise around the islands to make an approach to the sand bar from the east. The boater expressed surprise at this course, indicating
Flipped out ... Sussex 20 tows a dismasted catamaran from St Georges Basin to its base in the Sussex Inlet river.
he would have gone between the islands to make a direct approach to the sand bar, hence his fear. The implication was that on his outward passage, he had indeed crossed the reef between the island and headland which is dangerous in the best of conditions. The reefs
are only passable on a high tide in good sea conditions. Experience has taught the unit’s crews never to cross over the reefs but to instead take the safer course of turning left from the bar into Wreck Bay and then proceeding around the islands. Les Pataky SOUNDINGS | MARINE RESCUE NSW
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