One of three fishermen swept off a notorious rock platform at Port Kembla has told how they were caught off guard by a rogue wave and sent tumbling into the surging water, before being plucked to safety as a shark lurked nearby.
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Nino Agaya was fishing with a friend and another man at Honeycomb Rocks, below Hill 60, when the near-tragedy unfolded about 10.50am on Friday.
The 34-year-old, from Punchbowl, had been to the spot on many occasions – including in similar conditions – but Good Friday fishing took an unexpected turn.
“A series of waves came; small ones, then a bigger one and three of us fell,” a drenched Mr Agaya told the Mercury.
“The second wave just got us. It was a good thing we were all [good] swimmers.”
Nearby fishing boats came to the trio’s aid, along with a Maritime Services’ vessel in the area.
In added drama, a tiger shark was reportedly seen lurking during the rescue.
“We were on the boat and saw a shark roaming just around the boat,” he said.
Angel rings were also thrown into the water.
“I was able to grab one of those ones and it really helped me swim out… if you don’t swim out you get smashed by the rocks,” he said.
The incident happened just after high tide.
Mr Agaya wasn’t wearing a life jacket and was lucky to escape without injury.
It is understood the other man fell on Mr Agaya’s friend, pushing him under the water and causing him to hit his leg on the rocks.
The injured man was taken to Wollongong Hospital for treatment to a fractured leg.
Inspector Brian Pedersen, from Lake Illawarra police, said the men were washed off a two-metre cliff.
“It’s very deceptive at the moment, it looks relatively flat. However, there are sets of very large waves coming through,” Inspector Pedersen said at the scene.
“You should never turn your back to the ocean, you always have to keep a good eye out.”
Honeycomb Rocks has been the scene of rock fishing deaths in the past.
Mr Agaya said the ordeal wouldn’t stop him from fishing.
“I’ll be a bit more cautious next time, with these conditions you have be at least prepared, maybe a life vest would be handy,” he said.
TIMELINE OF TRAGEDY AT PORT KEMBLA
- April 2013: Man, 44, from Hebersham in south-west Sydney dies after being swept off Honeycomb Rocks while fishing with his 13-year-old son and another family member.
- July 2012: Rock fisherman drowned after slipping into the sea at Honeycomb Rocks while his friends’ backs were turned.
- April 2010: Fisherman swept off Honeycomb Rocks. The tragedy came just two weeks after police used angel rings to rescue a fisherman in the same area.
- July 2009: A 28-year-old Hurlstone Park man was swept into the ocean while fishing from a rock shelf in front of Port Kembla Heritage Park. A four-day search has so far failed to find his body.
- March 2009: A 71-year-old Strathfield man drowned off Honeycomb Rocks, Port Kembla. A coronial inquest is under way.
- July 2006: A 51-year-old Bonnyrigg man drowned after being washed off rocks at Red Point, Port Kembla.
- April 2006: A 34-year-old Canley Vale man died while rock fishing at Port Kembla during a weekend of rough seas and big swells.
- April 2002: A 52-year-old Seven Hills man drowned off Honeycomb Rocks, Port Kembla, after he was swept into the ocean. His body was later found in the stomach of a shark caught in Lake Macquarie.
- May 2000: A husband and wife both drowned while they were fishing off Honeycomb Rocks
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- April 2013: Rock fisherman drowns off Port Kembla
- April 2013: Rock fisherman's death 'tragic but avoidable'
- July 2012: Port Kembla: rock fisherman drowns
- April 2010: After Port Kembla death, fishermen still take risk
- April 2010: Man dies in surf at Port Kembla
- March 2009: Late-night fishing fatality at Port Kembla
- Port Kembla's deadly rock fishing history