A volunteer crew from Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes has safely returned a couple to shore after their vintage four-metre vessel began taking on water Wednesday.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Jane Shirriff said NSW Police Marine Area Command requested volunteers from Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes to assist the boaters, who were stranded in the middle of Budgewoi Lake.
“A volunteer crew was quickly assembled and rescue vessel Tuggerah Lakes 21 deployed just after 1pm.
“The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was in the area and provided situational awareness from above while Tuggerah Lakes 21 was en route to the distressed vessel,” Inspector Shirriff said.
Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes Unit Commander Tony Younglove skippered the rescue vessel and said they checked the welfare of the man and woman on board before securing a towline and returning them and their boat to shore.
“It appears the vessel had a loose propeller shaft, which led to water entering the hull.
“Despite battling wind chop during the second half of the mission, we safely returned the boaters to Toukley Boat Ramp, where they were assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics,” he said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
