Family of five rescued after 000 call

A family of five received help from Marine Rescue Central Coast after they called 000 when their boat had engine failure off Blackwall.

The two adults and three children were rescued on the night of Saturday, December 17, concerned about their safety with approaching darkness and a forecast southerly change.

Marine Rescue Central Coast on-call volunteers were contacted at their homes around 7:30pm to assist the family on its six-metre runabout at Blackwall, about halfway between Orange Grove and Lions Park, Woy Woy.

Water Police tasked Marine Rescue Central Coast to assist the family.

The rescue boat crew of skipper Phil Page and crewman Robert M Smith had Central Coast 22 ready to go from the Pt Clare Base.

In darkness, as the rescue crew approached the area where the runabout was located, the family were asked to shine a light to identify their vessel.

The runabout was readily located because family members had several torches.

The tow to Gosford Boat Ramp was completed just before the expected southerly arrived on Brisbane Water to the relief of all concerned.

Media release, 18 Dec 2016

Ron Smith, Marine Rescue Central Coast