SURF CLUB RESCUE AT GERRINGONG

This bloke was extremely lucky

The Gerringong Surf Club IRB tows to safety a man and his upturned boat just off the rock at Gerringong Boat Harbour on Sunday.

TRAGEDY was narrowly averted at Gerringong on Sunday afternoon thanks to the quick thinking and cool heads shown by members of the local Surf Life Saving Club.

Responding to a radio call from the local emergency coordinator just after 5pm, members of the Gerringong surf patrol were called to action after an inflatable boat was overturned by a large wave on the Boat Harbour bombora.

The single male passenger was left exhausted clinging to the top of his boat as waves crashed around him.

Father and daughter rescue team Paul and Chanelle Burman set off from Werri Beach, braving the one to two metre southerly swell in the inflatable rescue boat as they headed to Boat Harbour.

When we got there we quickly ascertained that he was by himself and that he was starting to get really tired from trying to hang on, Mr Burman said.

The rescue helicopter was on its way but we called for that to return home after we realised we could sort it out by ourselves.

With no regard for his own safety, Mr Burman jumped from the boat and attempted to right the mans boat.

Unable to roll the vessel in the worsening conditions, the Burmans then towed the craft away from the bombora before quickly going into the Boat Harbour ramp and swapping rescue teams.

With the extra weight from Dylan OBrien and Geoff Oppert in our second rescue team we were able to roll the boat and tow it into shore, he said.

There were a number of surf club members there by that time who were able to help get the boat back on to the trailer.

The bloke was pretty embarrassed about the whole thing but very happy he didnt lose his boat. He had only had it for a week or so and it was his pride and joy.

Despite the attendance of both police rescue and the ambulance service the man did not require medical attention and was able to drive himself home.

A long time surf club member, Paul Burman said had it not been for the quick thinking of local patrol members the man could have been in a far worse situation.

I hope this sort of thing can act as a warning this bloke was extremely lucky, he said.

People have to remember that drowning dont just occur at the beach it can strike anywhere.