A man has been winched to safety after he became shipwrecked on the smallest of Port Kembla’s Five Islands.
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A passer-by alerted Marine Rescue to a possible overturned boat off Hill 60 shortly before 4pm Friday.
Marine Rescue’s Illawarrra Regional Operations Manager Bruce Mitchell said crew used binoculars to confirm the emergency.
Crew aboard Port Kembla 30 found the boat unoccupied.
They found the man on Martin Island – a small, rocky outcrop usually home to a seal colony – but couldn’t bring him to safety.
“He had been able to make it up to the island but you just can't access it [in a boat]," Mr Mitchell said.
“It’s too dangerous to get in there because of the rocks.”
The Westpac Lifesaver 21 helicopter winched the man, aged in his 40s, to safety. He was returned to Hill 60 a short time ago.
He is suffering the effects of hypothermia and has been wrapped in a space blanket.
“He’s lucky he was spotted because he would have spent a very cold night out there,” Mr Mitchell said.
Marine Rescue has brought the man’s boat to shore.
He has been transported to Wollongong Hospital, as at 5.30pm.
Angela Thompson
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
