Volunteers from Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie saved three teenage boys after their tinny capsized on Lake Macquarie.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said the Lake Macquarie unit was tasked to respond after receiving a call from NSW Police Marine Area Command at 10.37am on Monday, January 22.
“We were told that a vessel had overturned with three people in the water on the southern side of Wangi Wangi,” he said.
“Marine Rescue NSW vessel Lake Macquarie 30 was deployed with a volunteer crew on board and within 12 minutes all three teenage boys had been saved.
“The boys were retrieved from the water by our crew and safely taken on board LM 30.”
Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie Unit Commander Jim Wright said the three boys were wearing lifejackets.
“The boys had been in the water for about 30 minutes so the fact they were wearing lifejackets was crucial.
“They were holding on to the side of their hull when our crew arrived.
“The LM 30 crew provided basic first aid, checked them over for hypothermia, dried them off and wrapped them in space blankets before taking them and their vessel back to the Dobell Park boat ramp.
“They were uninjured and met by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the boat ramp.”
Wright praised the volunteers involved in the rescue.
“Our radio operators did a wonderful job managing the communications for the rescue mission while the crew on board Lake Macquarie 30 responded swiftly and efficiently,” he said.
“Our volunteers train for quick deployment and for our crew to reach the distressed vessel and retrieve the three boys from the water within 12 minutes is exceptional.
“Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie can respond quickly to incidents because we have volunteers at the Pelican base from 6am to 6pm seven days a week.”
Unit Commander Wright said the teens and their boat were located overturned between Pulbah Island and the Dobell Park boat ramp.
“It is a notorious spot when the wind picks up and a southerly was blowing that day.
“For boaters who have not been in that area of the lake, we ask them to take care especially when it is windy.
“We also ask all boaters to log on with Marine Rescue NSW either by the free Marine Rescue app or VHF channel 16.
“Logging on ensures our volunteers keep watch for the safe return of boaters.
“Logging on also saves vital time in the event of an emergency.”
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.