Lucky Escape for a Fisherman on NSW Mid North Coast
Main Photo: Trial Bay Incident| Photo: MRNSW |
Volunteers from Marine Rescue Trial Bay assisted a fisherman after his vessel was struck by a whale off Grassy Head.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Rodney Page said the call for assistance came in just after 7.30am, Sunday 22 September.
“Marine Rescue Trial Bay volunteer radio operators received a call from a fisherman located off Grassy Head. The man’s stationary fishing vessel had been hit by a whale, causing damage to the bow of the boat and disabling the fuel supply. A volunteer crew on board Trial Bay 30 were deployed to assist and safely towed the vessel back to a boat ramp at South West Rocks,” Inspector Page said.
Marine Rescue NSW reminds boaters to take extra caution during whale migration season.
When whales are present, boaters are not to come within 100 metres of a whale, or 300 metres of a whale and calf.
“If a whale does surface near your vessel it is important that you cut your motors and slow down to a safe speed,” said Inspector Page.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.