Three fishermen returning from Byron Bay to Ballina were rescued when their boat capsized trying to cross the Ballina bar into the Richmond River on Sunday, emergency services said.
The incident reportedly happened within sight of the Marine Rescue NSW unit base at Ballina near Lighthouse Beach shortly after midday Sunday.
A rostered volunteer was able to raise an official alert, triggering a multi-agency rescue operation involving Surf Life Saving, police, paramedics and marine authorities.
Volunteers said seas were estimated at two to three metres high.
Surfers to the rescue
Sunday’s rain and wind combined with an outgoing tide at the time of the rescue made for conditions that were ‘not the best,’ Marine Rescue NSW Mid-North Coast Inspector Courtney Greenslade said on Monday morning.
Inspector Greenslade said the best time for crossing the bar was generally at the half-way point in time between low and high tides as the tide was due to come in.
The inspector said the fishers were likely in the water for between ten and fifteen minutes before being rescued at Lighthouse Beach.
A nearby surfer rescued one, she said, while local Surf Life Savers rescued the other two.
Volunteers on social media credited SLS volunteer Al Noble with the latter rescue, carried out using an inflatable rescue boat.
Boat washes up on Shelly Beach
It was about an hour before the boat, estimated by Inspector Greenslade to be about 67 metres long, washed to shore at Shelly Beach without sinking.
Inspector Greenslade said the boat’s owner was able to recover the vessel and take it away.
Volunteers said the incident ended without anyone suffering serious injury thanks to ‘the vigilance, training, and cooperation of all involved’.
Marine Rescue NSW understands the fishers were experiencing mechanical issues aboard the boat immediately prior to some sudden wave action upon crossing the Ballina bar.
Volunteers referred to a problem with the vessel’s throttle, said to have failed to deliver sufficient power for the tidal ebb crossing.
Inspector Greenslade said it was a good time to remind boaters to always log on with Marine Rescue NSW before heading out to sea and of the importance of wearing life jackets.
Police later said Maritime NSW was investigating the incident.
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