Two off-duty volunteers from Marine Rescue Camden Haven rescued a fisherman after his boat capsized on the Camden Haven Inlet bar this afternoon.
Marine Rescue Camden Haven Unit Commander Neville Adams and fellow volunteer Ken Clancy were returning from a fishing trip in Mr Clancy’s boat about 12.15pm when they noticed a 3.8 metre tinnie in trouble on the bar.
By the time the pair had turned their boat around to assist, the dinghy had capsized, throwing the sole occupant, a 69-year-old man, into the water.
Coming alongside the overturned boat, the volunteers’ rescue training kicked in and they quickly pulled the fisherman, who was clinging to his upturned hull, on board their boat and rushed him back to the Marine Rescue Camden Haven base.
After his ordeal in the river’s chilly waters, a NSW Ambulance was called to check on the fisherman’s condition.
Marine Rescue NSW Mid North Coast Regional Operations Manager Randall Gawne said the fisherman was lucky two highly trained rescue personnel had happened to be passing and able to reach him so quickly after his dinghy had overturned.
“Today’s rescue is a reminder that our coastal bars can be hazardous and anyone heading out on the water should Log On on VHF Channel 16 or the free MarineRescue App,” Mr Gawne said.
“Logging On and Logging Off helps our volunteers keep a watch over you while you are on the water and if the worst does happen, to reach you quickly,” he added.
The upturned dinghy was retrieved by a passing trawler and dropped at the MR Camden Haven base.
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