Port Macquarie Bar- another 'Near Miss'

by Port Macquarie News/Sail-World Cruising on 24 Jan 2008 A near-miss on Port Macquarie's bar highlights the need for boaters listening, watching or trawling for weather reports on the internet. All this week, warnings have been given that the bars along the Australian east coast are disturbed.

THREE men were trapped under the hull of their overturned boat yesterday in the third boating incident at Port Macquarie's bar in 10 days.

The drama, which took less than a minute to unfold, was witnessed by dozens of onlookers on Town Beach and the breakwall.

The occupants of the 6m fibreglass runabout were lucky to escape serious injury while returning from a fishing trip during large seas about 8.30am.

The trio suffered only minor cuts and bruises in the dramatic morning rescue.

Thirteen-year-old Jimmy Hawkins, from Queensland, witnessed the capsize from Town Beach carpark.
'First there was this big sail boat going out getting smashed by the waves and everyone was watching but it made it out,' he said.

'Then this little one was coming back in through the bar and it tried to ride a set in and just nose-dived and flipped.'
Off-duty lifeguards Stuart Brook and his father Larry were first on the scene on rescue boards.

'We supported them on the boards until the handover with Sea Rescue,' said Mr Brook senior.

'They weren't in good condition. One was treated for a bump on his head and all three were suffering from shock. They were very lucky ? you hit your head in something like that and you're gone.'

Port Macquarie Sea Rescue Group spokesman Geoff Shelton said the 6m Haines Hunter runabout had gone out fishing but was returning to shore after conditions deteriorated.

'It was attempting to cross the bar in rather hazardous conditions,' he said.

'It highlights the need for caution on the bar when the swell does come up. The bar has been so flat in recent weeks that maybe people become complacent and get caught.'