Flares lead to rescue of New South Wales boaters
18/08/2022
Boaters in New South Wales, Australia, have been rescued after their craft overturned and flares summoned help from a nearby charter vessel.
Two men in a dinghy were travelling near North Head, Manly, one afternoon in August. They managed to set off two flares before their boat capsized in rough seas.
The charter vessel saw the flare and responded, picking up the men. Among emergency crews attending were Marine Rescue NSW, a Surf Life Saving NSW Manly Lifeguard on a jet ski, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, the NSW Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter, NSW Ambulance paramedics and NSW Police Marine Area Command.
The news comes as Marine Rescue NSW announced there were 3,905 rescues and 14 flare sightings last year during its second-busiest season.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke congratulated Marine Rescue NSW volunteers for their outstanding efforts. “One-third of the rescues conducted in the last financial year was for life-threatening emergencies, sometimes in the worst of weather and sea conditions and at the dead of night.”
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner, Stacey Tannos says, “Over the year our volunteers around NSW received an extraordinary 223,338 radio calls, nearly one every two minutes. These included 73 Mayday calls when lives were in imminent danger, and 47 Pan Pans, when boaters were in an urgent but not life-threatening situation, as well as 14 flare sightings.
Marine Rescue NSW volunteers also attended 247 groundings, 146 capsizes and 23 medical emergencies. Most rescues (37%) came during fishing trips, 32% while cruising and 8% when sailing. Half were at weekends with Sunday the busiest day with 27% of rescues. Four in 10 rescues happened from 12midday-3pm, as boats began to head home, suffer mechanical breakdowns or deteriorating weather.
