Crowdy Harrington volunteers race to save boaters in two operations

by Ken McManus on 23 Apr 2016 Two children were among boaters rescued by volunteers from Marine Rescue Crowdy in two emergency operations yesterday afternoon.

Just before 1pm, the unit received a call for help from a boat that had lost battery power three nautical miles off Old Bar, about 11nm south of Crowdy Head.

Crowdy 30, with Skipper John Peers and crew members Kevin Bailey, Chris Burdett and Aaron Orton on board, was immediately activated and quickly on the scene.

The crew used the rescue vessel’s battery pack to jump start the stricken vessel and get it under way but it soon ran out of power again and was subsequently towed back to Crowdy Harbour just as a southerly was hitting.

Unit Commander Keith Richardson, who was on the breakwall as Crowdy 30 berthed, noticed that a Hobie Cat with two adults and two children on board sailing on the bay appeared to have capsized about half a nautical mile offshore. Another vessel was assisting.

As he alerted the crew of Crowdy 30 to the emergency, a family member of the Hobie Cat crew arrived at the rescue vessel seeking urgent help.

The crew rapidly headed to the scene, taking two young girls and a woman on board before towing the boat, which had broken a stay, to Crowdy Beach.

Mr Richardson congratulated the crew of Crowdy 30 for their swift and professional response to both incidents, along with Radio Operator Morrie Agius and Watch Officer Bek Brown, who provided vital communications support at the unit’s radio base.

“Marine Rescue vessel crews and communications officers are trained and equipped for operations such as this,” he said. “Our members’ commitment to saving lives on the water has resulted in a successful outcome for these boaters.”