Four volunteers from Marine Rescue Terrigal have been presented Commissioner’s Citations for their actions during the 2017 New Year’s Eve display explosions at Terrigal Haven which resulted in two people being thrown into the water and rescued by Marine Rescue NSW crew.
Volunteers on board Marine Rescue Central Coast vessels CC 13 and CC 22 which at the time were based at Terrigal Haven, provided on-water assistance for the fireworks display and were monitoring the exclusion zone when not long after the commencement of the display multiple explosions took place on the fireworks barge.
Two persons working on the barge ended up in the water and required immediate assistance.
Image: Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner’s Citation recipients (L to R) Adrian Nicholas, Darren Wright, Czeslaw Lawicki and Shaun Smith.
The volunteer crew of Shaun Smith and Darren Wright on board CC 13 responded and recovered the two persons in the water while Marine Rescue NSW vessel CC 22 provided support to the emergency response.
CC 13 transported the two persons to the Terrigal boat ramp where they were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before the rescue vessel returned to maintain the exclusion zone along with CC 22.
Both Marine Rescue NSW vessels and their crews were stood down at 10:50pm after the fireworks barge sunk.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell attended the Terrigal unit today and presented CC 13 crew Shaun Smith and Darren Wright and CC 22 crew Adrian Nicholas and Czeslaw Lawicki with Commissioner’s Citations.
“The volunteers involved in Terrigal Haven New Year’s Eve rescue have been recognised for their courage, bravery, teamwork and dedication to saving lives on the water.
“Their rapid response during this incident ensured that the two people on the barge were retrieved from the water quickly and taken for treatment.
“Our volunteers’ actions were selfless and heroic and I am extremely proud to award those involved with Commissioner’s Citations,” Commissioner Barrell said.
Image: Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell presents the Commissioner’s Citation to Marine Rescue Terrigal volunteer Czeslaw Lawicki.
CC 13 crew member Shaun Smith is now the Unit Commander at Marine Rescue Terrigal and said the volunteers on duty that night provided a rapid response.
“The fireworks were still going off as we retrieved the first man, another person was thrown into the water by the second explosion, we got him on board the rescue vessel, they were both disorientated and one was struggling to breathe.
“We got them to the paramedics as quickly as we could and then headed back with CC 22 to enforce the exclusion zone because the fireworks were still going off.
“It is an honour to receive this award in recognition of our involvement on the night, we just knew people were in trouble and did everything we could to get them to safety,” he said.
Terrigal Unit Commander Smith said all four Marine Rescue NSW units on the Central Coast (Terrigal, Central Coast, Norah Head and Tuggerah Lakes) are looking to increase their membership.
“Marine Rescue NSW has a variety of volunteer opportunities for those wanting to get involved with the Service, from radio operations and vessel crew to fundraising.
“In the past 18 months Marine Rescue Terrigal’s membership has grown from 11 to 44 committed volunteers.
“We are actively seeking people to get involved with fundraising to support the unit’s operational costs,” he said.
Commissioner Barrell also presented Marine Rescue Terrigal volunteer John Finn with a 2nd Clasp National Medal for his 35 years of service to Marine Rescue NSW and the Royal Australian Navy Reserve.
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