Man stranded after whale capsizes boat off Fraser Island

[Nergal]

 

A MAN has spent two hours in waters off Fraser Island after his boat struck what was thought to be a whale and capsized, early this morning.

The lone boatie was travelling near Platypus Bay on the western side of the island, 20 nautical miles from Hervey Bay, when he called Police after his vessel began taking on water about 3am.

His eight metre fibreglass boat capsized soon after forcing him into the ocean in the dark of night.

The man set off an EPIRB and was spotted by an emergency helicopter about 4.30am. By 5.15am, Water Police had reached the 42-year-old man.

The boatie was suffering from hyperthermia and an arm injury.

“He had an injury to his upper left arm and rib area so it was a little bit difficult to actually get him into the vessel … he was quite fatigued and relieved at the same time,” Hervey Bay Water Police officer Senior Constable Craig Collings said.

He was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital for treatment.

Snr Con Collings said seas were quite smooth, but there was a lot of rain around.

Jill Barclay from VMR Hervey Bay said it was fortunate the man was carrying emergency equipment and was wearing a life jacket at the time of the rescue, making it easier for crews to see him from the air.

“He was hugely lucky, but when we have a location which we get from an emergency beacon it makes the chances so much greater for actually finding that person quickly.

“If we don’t have a location we could be searching for hours for a small head in the water.

“Everything just worked in this guy’s favour, but he had all his safety gear which was a coup for him and something we should encourage all boaties to have.”