A volunteer crew on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Port Kembla 31 responded to a call for assistance from a distressed vessel with one person on board just after 11am this morning, Sunday 23 March.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said a motor cruiser reported it was taking on water and sinking approximately one nautical miles (2km) east of Five Islands.
“Volunteer Radio Operators at Marine Rescue Port Kembla’s Hill 60 base received a call from the skipper of vessel a few minutes after 11am this morning.
“The skipper advised the vessel was taking on water and sinking.
“A volunteer crew from Marine Rescue Port Kembla were deployed on board Port Kembla 31
“PK 31 quickly arrived at the scene, and located the skipper standing on the flybridge of his vessel.
“The vessel was almost completely under water.
“The skipper entered the water and swam towards PK 31.
‘”Volunteers on board PK 31 assisted the boater from the water and returned him to the base for an assessment by NSW Ambulance,” Inspector Massey said.
As the semi-submerged vessel is now a navigational hazard, Radio Operators at Marine Rescue Port Kembla have issued several securites advising boaters in the region of the location of the vessel.
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