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Port Macquarie heroes
Ten volunteers from Marine Rescue NSW have been lauded as heroes and recognised with international, national and Marine Rescue NSW awards for their operation to save the lives of three seriously injured men on a sinking motor cruiser in the dark, far from shore, in April 2019.
The men sustained a number of injuries, including broken bones, severe lacerations, punctured lungs and a spinal injury, when their 10m cruiser struck a submerged object off Crescent Head in the early hours of April 14.
The MR Port Macquarie team who responded was named as the winner of the Outstanding Team Contribution to a Maritime Search and Rescue category of the International Maritime Rescue Federation Awards, announced on September 10.
The trophy was presented to four unit representatives by Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence in a ceremony on board the HQS Wellington, permanently moored on the Thames River in the heart of London.
Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence presents an IMRF Award to Port Macquarie members Rob Breskal, Gary White, Bill Richardson and Chris Condon, with Mattias Malmgren from awards sponsor CM Hammar.
The unit also received a Professional Commendation Award in the National Search and Rescue Awards.
Chair Jim Glissan and Commissioner Stacey Tannos presented Marine Rescue NSW awards to the volunteers at a dinner attended by 160 people at Port Macquarie’s Westport Club on August 23.
Mr Glissan said none of the men on the cruiser had been wearing lifejackets and could not be moved without the risk of further injury.
“They could not remain without drowning,” he said.
Commissioner Tannos presented Chris Condon and William Richardson with Commendations for Courage for their bravery in boarding the holed vessel and ensuring the men made it off the boat to safety.
Commissioner’s Citations were presented to Port Macquarie 30 crew members Reg McGlashan, Yolanda Bosschieter and Tony Hallett; Port Macquarie 20 crew members Robert Breskal and Owen Coulls; watch officers Graham Gibbs and Gary White and Unit Commander Greg Davies.
Commissioner Tannos said the volunteers’ courage and determination throughout the six-hour mission had without doubt ensured three lives were saved.
“These 10 volunteers deserve recognition and praise for their commitment to the Marine Rescue NSW mission of saving lives on the water, working together as one to rescue the stricken boaters,” he said.
The Port Macquarie radio base received a Mayday call from the cruiser at 1.07am on April 14 but the location given by the caller – later found to have a broken jaw – was difficult to determine.
As the watch officers persisted in their attempts to gain accurate coordinates and UC Davies liaised with the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command to coordinate the response, the rescue crew searched under darkness to find the boat.
They eventually located the damaged cruiser with the assistance of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter just south of Crescent Head.
“When PM 30 arrived on scene, Mr Richardson and Mr Condon bravely boarded the holed vessel to provide emergency first aid to the three people on board,” Commissioner Tannos said.
“As the cruiser began sinking, without regard for their own safety, the pair ensured all three injured men escaped, painstakingly extricating the patient with the spinal injury from below deck where he had been trapped among debris by using the rising water in the cabin to float him out into the sea.
“All five men were rapidly retrieved by the crew of PM 30 and transferred to shore, rendezvousing en route with PM 20, which had paramedics on board.”
Commissioner Tannos said the MRNSW, national and international recognition of the crew was well deserved.
“These members are now recognised among the world’s finest. They are genuine heroes. This is a tremendous accolade for our volunteer’s skill and professionalism.
“Our volunteers do not join our service for glory and awards but it is pleasing to see this worldwide acknowledgment of their ability and service.”
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