Fisherman survives capsize off Illawarra coast

by Marine Rescue NSW on 26 Oct 2016 A fisherman has been found alive on Brush Island,off Kioloa, after his small fishing boat overturned off the Illawarra coastline tonight. The man told rescue crews his lifejacket had saved his life. Two volunteer crews from Marine Rescue Ulladulla and Ambulance Rescue Helicopter 23 had launched a search operation for the man who was reported missing about 8.45pm.

The man’s wife raised the alarm after he failed to return home as normal around dark and she located his car and boat trailer in the car park at the boat ramp from which he had earlier departed. Attempts by Marine Rescue Kioloa to contact the man via his marine radio and mobile phone were unsuccessful. He was the only person on board his 4.5m centre console runabout.

Marine Rescue NSW Illawarra Regional Controller Bruce Mitchell said the rescue helicopter had located theman’s overturned boat near Brush Island just before 10pm and winched crew members on to the island, where they located the fisherman. He said the man had been winched on to the helicopter and transported to shore at Kioloa, where NSW Ambulance paramedics were waiting to assess his condition.

“Thankfully, the man had been wearing a lifejacket and said it had saved his life,” Mr Mitchell said. The crews of Ulladulla 30 and Ulladulla 20 will search for the upturned boat to prevent it becoming a shipping hazard. Mr Mitchell said the emergency services had responded swiftly to the emergency.

“Marine Rescue crews are professionally trained and equipped for search and rescue operations both day and night and the members of Marine Rescue Ulladulla quickly launched their vessels to search for the missing man,” he said. Mr Mitchell reminded boaters to always wear a lifejacket and to Log On with their nearest Marine Rescue NSW unit when heading out on the water so a search could be quickly organised if they were not back safely as scheduled.