Runabout rescued

Two people, onboard a 5.3 metre runabout, were rescued off Pearl Beach on November 1, after signalling for help using an emergency flare.

Publicity officer Mr Ron Cole said the crew onboard the Central Coast Lifeboat were training on the coastal bar at Little Box Head when they were approached by a lifesaver on a jet ski to help the runabout.

"In a run-out tide and with a fair southerly breeze Coastal Patrol's Central Coast Lifeboats were training crews on the coastal bar at Little Box Head early on Saturday afternoon," Mr Cole said.

"The crew onboard Central Coast Lifeboat, Ron Cole, Terry Reynolds, Tony Long and Warren Goodsell had completed three training runs when they were approached by a lifesaver on a jet ski asking if we could help as there was a runabout in trouble just near the break at Pearl Beach.

"The jet ski headed back directly across the sand bars to the boat and the lifeboat went to sea across the bar and then rushed back towards Pearl Beach.

"The jet ski managed to keep the boat out of trouble, even so, as the Central Coast Lifeboat approached, the Westpac helicopter appeared overhead.

"The 5.3 metre runabout had two people from Holgate on board, a father and his young son. They had fouled a line that had wrapped around a shaft.

"The boat was partly swamped and the man's mobile phone was damaged.

"To attract help they had set off an orange flare and the lifesavers had responded."

Mr Cole said the patrol crew towed the boat and its crew safely back to Lions Park, Woy Woy, "ending an anxious afternoon".

Press release, 1 Nov 2008 Ron Cole, Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol Central Coast Division