Ten in the water in ten days keeps Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie busy

9:49 AM Mon 26 Sep 2011 GMT

'Lake Macquarie II on patrol' Marine Rescue NSW Click Here to view large photo

In the last ten days Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie has responded to four incidents on the lake where a total of twelve people have ended up in the water. On two of those occasions people were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia.

On Wednesday 14 September two visitors from Tasmania were tipped out of their canoe near Marks Point when they encountered rough water on the lake. Both were rescued from the water by the duty crew of Lake Macquarie II. They were taken to the Marine Rescue Pelican base and then transferred to hospital by ambulance.

On Monday 19 September two males and a child ended up in the water when their Hobie Cat overturned and they couldn't right the vessel. Once again Lake Macquarie II and the duty crew responded and transferred one male and the child to shore and then returned to tow the vessel to Pelican.

On Friday 23 September just after a southerly wind hit Lake Macquarie at night two men out in a tinny found themselves in the water when their vessel was swamped at Green Point. They managed to make it safely to shore where they pulled their vessel up on the shore. Lake Macquarie II arrived at the scene and it was determined that the state of the lake was too rough to attempt a tow. The two were uninjured and safe so they walked out to a nearby carpark.

On Sunday 25 September Lake Macquarie II was called to respond to a call that a 16ft skiff had overturned near Carey Bay and could not be righted. This time there were three people in the water. A NSW Maritime vessel and Lake Macquarie II responded and one of the skiff's crew was taken by Lake Macquarie II to Pelican where he was transported to hospital suffering from hypothermia .

Commander Jim Wright of Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie said, 'The boating season is about to get started on the Long Weekend. This is a good time to warn the boating community of the need to:

? Wear life jackets;
? Be aware of the weather conditions on the Lake, especially if a southerly front is approaching;
? Let people know where you are going and what time you are due to return. You can do this by using your marine radio to Log On with Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie. If your vessel doesn't have a radio, call in by phone to 4971 3498.

Marine Rescue NSW website

by Ken McManus