Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Life jacket helps save NSW rock fisherman
Water police have rescued a man from rough seas off Port Kembla after he was washed off rocks on the NSW south coast.
February 27, 2018
A fisherman is lucky to be alive after being washed off rocks into rough seas on the NSW south coast with authorities saying he was saved by his life jacket.
Water police rescued the rock fisher from waters off Port Kembla on Tuesday morning.
Superintendent Mark Hutchings says the 37-year-old’s life jacket “may well have saved his life”.
“This man was able to stay afloat in rough seas until rescuers could reach him and, together with the fact he was fishing with another person who was able to call for help, that’s most likely why he is still alive today,” Supt Hutchings said in a statement.
“So many times we are called to incidents like this where the outcome is tragic because the person was not wearing a life jacket.”
The Auburn man’s fishing buddy, a relative, raised the alarm about 6.30am after the 37-year-old was swept off rocks at Hill 60.
He spent 20 minutes in the ocean before he was pulled onto a water police vessel. He was then taken to Wollongong Hospital in a stable.