Two people have been rescued from rough seas at the mouth of the Macleay River at South West Rocks after their boat capsized on Sunday, March 5.
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Deputy Commander of Trial Bay Marine Rescue Mark Winn said that the boat, containing a grandfather and his teenage grandson, was observed capsizing over a sand bar at about 9.45am.
Deputy Commander Winn said it appeared that the boat had come across the sandbar on an angle before being hit from behind by a wave which swamped the boat and caused it to capsize.
Trial Bay Marine Rescue reacted quickly to the incident, with jet ski TB11, operated by Jon Cagg, and rescue vessel TB30, with skipper Deputy Commander Winn and crew members Ron Young and Rob Hose aboard, attending.
Both occupants clung to the upturned boat while they waited for rescue, with the grandfather picked up by jet ski TB11 and the grandson picked up by a nearby fishing vessel, Crazy Cat 2, skippered by Ian Reid.
The grandfather was transported by Trial Bay Marine Rescue to awaiting ambulance and police services at Matty’s Flat wharf.
He was then transported by ambulance to hospital for treatment for exhaustion.
The grandson is understood to be uninjured.
Their boat washed up on the beach at midday.
Deputy Commander Winn said the incident should serve as an important reminder of the importance of wearing life jackets when boating.
“Luckily they were both wearing life jackets,” he said.
“The conditions were pretty treacherous.”
He also emphasised the importance of boaters logging on and logging off with their local Marine Rescue Unit, simply done over the marine radio.
Deputy Commander Winn said the swift rescue was “a great outcome for everyone” given the challenging conditions.
“That’s what we train so hard for,” he said.
