Flood operations in hazardous conditions

Marine Rescue NSW has praised its volunteers for their commitment to community service, undertaking operations in hazardous conditions to assist members of the public caught in the State’s flood emergency.

MRNSW was participating in this morning’s multi-agency evacuation operation at Colo, alongside the NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Police and Surf Life Saving NSW, when one of its rescue vessels capsized.

The vessel, from Marine Rescue Alpine Lakes, was providing out-of-area operational support for the SES operation when it appears to have been caught on a low-hanging cable over the Colo River.

Two MRNSW volunteers, an SES volunteer and four members of the public were on board at the time. All escaped and were returned to waiting NSW Ambulance paramedics at the operation’s staging point at Sackville.

MRNSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos said the service was deeply grateful everyone on board had been quickly accounted for and appeared to have suffered only minor abrasions, bruising and shock.

“Our volunteers have been out working alongside their colleagues from the other emergency services to assist members of the community caught in this escalating flood crisis in Western Sydney and on the Mid North Coast,” he said.

“Operations such as this, in difficult and rapidly changing conditions on fast-moving flood waters carry considerable risk. We are grateful to our volunteers for willingly putting up their hands to assist people in real need.”