Marine Rescue NSW’s services were in high demand in March, with 138 search and rescue missions carried out in the Central Coast/Hunter region alone.
Statewide, the organisation recorded its busiest March on record, with 515 missions carried out, 115 of which were conducted between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
In the Central Coast and Hunter area, the 138 missions included 39 emergency responses with 300 people safely returned to shore.
These included 37 on the Central Coast (including Terrigal) and 55 on Lake Macquarie.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell said 168 of last month’s record 515 search and rescue missions were emergency responses, but other callouts could have been prevented.
“Unfortunately, we are still seeing too many boaters and their vessels succumb to mechanical, fuel and battery issues with 60 per cent of responses last month for these three preventable issues,” he said.