Marine Rescue Shoalhaven assist at Shoalhaven River accident

by Ken McManus on 13 Sep 2010 Two vessels from Marine Rescue Shoalhaven assisted Police, Ambulance and Fire Brigade officers at the scene of a fatal motor vehicle collision which occurred around 7pm Sunday 12 September 2010.

The collision between two motor vehicles at the northern end of the Nowra Bridge over the Shoalhaven River saw one of the vehicles catapulted into the river, trapping the driver inside the vehicle. A female passenger was rescued from the river by members of the public.

Marine Rescue Shoalhaven conducted a search of the river as it was feared that there may have been other occupants in the vehicle who could have been in the water. Lengthy searches were conducted of the river in the vicinity, water Police from Port Kembla arrived and a comprehensive search of the river was carried out using two marine rescue vessels and the Port Kembla Water Police RHIB.

Police divers attended the scene and Marine Rescue Shoalhaven's vessel SA - 24 was used as a platform for the divers. The body of the deceased driver was removed from the vehicle by the divers and it was ascertained that there were no further occupants in the vehicle.

A plan to raise the vehicle with air bags and tow it to shore using SA24 was abandoned owing to technical difficulties. The vehicle will be recovered later this morning when further equipment arrives on scene. Marine Rescue volunteers were stood down and returned to base at 4am this morning.

http://www.marinerescuensw.com.au/