Port Capsize Drama

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday December 28, 2006

By LINTON BESSER

A 14-YEAR-OLD Woonona boy was resuscitated on the rocky shore of Port Kembla's Big Island early yesterday, after an aluminium boat capsized in wild seas.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service winched the youth, his brother, father and his father's friend out of danger, after the four swam to shore when their 4.5m boat overturned.

Sergeant Greg Heat from Lake Illawarra police command said three were flown to Hill 60, and the teenager was transported to hospital.

"Apparently, he ingested water and had to be resuscitated," he said.

An ambulance spokesperson said the youth suffered post-immersion hypothermia, and was given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Wollongong Hospital confirmed he remained in a serious but stable condition yesterday afternoon.

Sgt Heat said the group had tried to traverse a narrow channel between Hill 60 and Big Island just before 7am.

"The boat was hit by a wave ... that threw them into the water," he said.

Fishermen said the channel was well-known as a treacherous body of water.

"First of all we saw the esky floating in the water," said Dean Gill, who had been fishing nearby at the time.

"And then we saw the boat sticking up out of the water."

Mr Gill said another fisherman helped the shipwrecked party at the shore.

"There were four of them sitting on the rocks, and one guy was going in to retrieve the life jackets," he said.

"It was crazy what they tried to do, to go through that gap.

"The waves were two to three metres."

A coast guard team towed the vessel back to the Port Kembla Harbour boat ramp where a crane was used to pull the boat from the water.

© 2006 Illawarra Mercury

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