Man rescued from tall ship near Patonga

On Thursday afternoon February 20 Broken Bay Water Police were called to a medical emergency near Patonga on the Hawkesbury River.

But this was no ordinary rescue.

Police were confronted with the tall ship James Craig built in 1874.

The ship measuring 54.8m (180ft), 32.9m (108ft) high and weighing 671 tonnes was going to present a few challenges in transferring the patient.

The James Craig is a part of the Sydney Heritage Fleet based at Pyrmont and had just returned to Sydney from a 10-day trip to Hobart.

During training, a 65-year-old male suffered a heart attack when three-quarters of the way up the mast attending to sails.

A NSW Police Marine Command spokesperson said the crew of 74 men and women did an excellent job helping the patient down using ropes and he was quickly treated by the ship’s doctor.

“The patient was then transferred to Parsley Bay Wharf by Water Police and given a Highway Patrol escort with paramedics to Hornsby Hospital,” the spokesperson said.

“The patient underwent emergency surgery putting a stent in his heart and is said to be recovering well.

“The Captain and crew of the James Craig did an excellent job and it was fabulous to see the ship under full sail as photographed by Water Police returning to Sydney Harbour on February 21.”