Was driving home along the Boulevard after Mt Martha around sunset tonight and noticed a tinny doing tight donuts at high speed about 500 meters offshore. Pulled over for a close look and sure enough there was no one in the tinny and a person making slow headway swimming to shore about a third of the way. Conditions where flat seas, calm. Rang 000 .....the police chopper took about 7 min to arrive and began circling....must have been out flying in the area somewhere. 10 min there was a boat from Martha Cove marina, the coastguard boat i presume, heading to the spot directed by the chopper and picked the MOB up, by then about half way to shore. Light was fading, it would have been close to dark when and if he made it to shore.
I was on my way down the rocks to meet him if he made it to shore when the coastguard arrived and boy was I relieved! It would have been a long cold swim.
Good on ya Guitz, the average wally proably wouldn't of recognised the implication of an out of control tinny
Confronting story, Just gotta remember to be safe while on a boat at all times. I know that everyone says that but it usually happens when you least expect it.
PS good on ya for helping that guy. You might just of saved his life.
If I may quote my own facebook page from a hot day, months ago...
The police had a report of a kayak upside-down and a person flail?ng about nearby. Guess there was some truth in that, as I practiced kayak rolling and self-rescue techniques on the Hawkesbury River.
They didn't care for ID but asked my address and date of birth. I wonder why the concerned people didn't stop to render assistance.
