Marine rescue called as men flee into water

When three occupants of a suspected stolen car fled into the water at Murphy's Bay, Koolewong, Marine Rescue Central Coast, the volunteer coastguard organisation, was called to assist police.

The rescue boat crew, Mr Bren Weston, Mr Phil Page and Mr Bob White were standing by at 6.45pm, ready to retrieve the fireworks barge from behind the mangroves at Woy Woy following the fireworks display at 9pm, when they received the call.

The rescue boat was tasked to assist in case those in the water got into difficulty or boarded moored boats and caused damage.

A NSW Maritime vessel also responded to the call.

A wide search of the area was unsuccessful and police were eventually advised that three men had been arrested on shore.

One of the men was taken to hospital due to water being swallowed and the remaining two were taken to the police station.

The previous Saturday, January 22, Marine Rescue volunteers were tasked to assist a 4.5 metre runabout with two people on board.

The runabout was being swept onto the rock shelf at the south end of the channel leading into the bar at Little Box Head at around 2pm.

Marine Rescue Central Coast's vessels, Central Coast Lifeboat and Brisbane Water Lifeboat, were on a joint training exercise near Lions Park at Woy Woy at the time when they received an Urgent Safety Message call.

Both vessels were immediately diverted to Lobster Beach to provide assistance.

Following arrival some 10 minutes later, volunteers found that the runabout was high and dry on the rocks and the crew was safe.

With assistance from a passing kayaker a towline was passed to the stranded vessel.

The rescue crew were able to edge the stranded boat gradually back into deep water.

The rescue boat crew were advised that the runabout's engine had failed as they were entering the channel on their way to cross the bar into Broken Bay.

The big swells running swept the boat onto the rocks.

The runabout was towed back to Koolewong ramp by Mr Brian Warburton and his crew.

Before Brisbane Water Lifeboat could leave Lobster Beach it was tasked to assist a 37-foot Beneteau sail boat that was firmly aground.

This was done with assistance from the NSW Maritime Boating Safety Officer who helped lay the vessel over with a halyard from its mast to free the keel while Brisbane Water Lifeboat towed the vessel free.

As Brisbane Water Lifeboat was returning to base, around 3.40pm, the crew was diverted to Ettalong to assist four people with 4.5 metre runabout on the beach at Ettalong.

The boat could not start its engine.

It was towed to deeper water and using the rescue boat's battery pack was able to jump start its motor and get underway.

Media release, 24 Jan 2011, 27 Jan 2011 Ron Cole, Marine Rescue Central Coast