Notable
Jobs
by Glenn Norris
V
MR Southport’s First Responders were called upon to assist
numerous casualties over the Christmas / New Year period.
One activation of note was a call to assist a vessel that was travelling
back to the Seaway from offshore of Broadbeach, with a patient onboard
with a severely lacerated hand.
The man had been fishing on the vessel and had caught a small
Hammerhead shark. As the shark was being pulled closer to the surface,
for reasons unknown, the man wrapped the wire trace of his fishing line
around his hand.
One last bid for freedom by the shark and the wire trace cut into the
mans hand, making a very nasty cut below three fingers, causing quite a
lot of blood loss. The crew on the vessel had bandaged the man’s hand
prior to arriving back at the boatramp next to VMR, although he was in
significant pain. Both VMR and Ambulance Paramedics further assisted
the patient in cleaning the wound and administering pain relief before
transport to hospital.
O
n return from an activation recently a crew were frantically
flagged down by a man on a vessel near Labrador. The man
requested urgent membership of VMR Southport as he was in quite a
hurry to have his vessel towed by VMR to Caboolture.
When advised that VMR did not undertake this sort of work, the man
became quite abusive.
At time of writing the vessel still sits in its same position awaiting
that tow.
V
MR were requested to assist two jetskis recently, that had both
been submerged and had become inoperable. The jetskis were
located on the beach on the front of Wavebreak Island and had to be
towed to the Spit boatramp and Runaway Bay respectively.
The owners advised that whilst operating offshore of the Seaway,
they had gone to the aid of two other jetskiers who had been swamped
on the outside of the North Wall.
As a result all 4 jetskis were swamped, and all 4 riders had been
thrown into the water.
The passing Lifesaver 45 Rescue helicopter had been notified of the
incident and hovered above the scene until all the riders had made it to
the safety of the South Stradbroke Island beach.
Two of the jetkis were able to be towed to Wavebreak Island by other
6
Volunteer Marine Rescue SOUTHPORT
jetskis in the area, however, the initial jetskis involved in the incident
were in a damaged state, unable to be towed at that time.
A very costly incident for all concerned.
O
f particular note over the Christmas / New Year period was
the number of small vessel that became grounded because
the occupants didn’t respect how quickly the tide can drop when it
starts ebbing. Numerous people involved in beach picnics and other
activities on Wavebreak Island and the Broadwater Centre Banks found
themselves high and dry, and waiting for the next high tide before they
could retrieve their vessels. VMR transported several boat loads of
people who were caught up in these situations. On 2 occassions, vessels
were more than 25 metres from water when the tide was low.
man called VMR recently requesting a jump start for a flat
battery on his vessel. VMR attended and explained to the
man how to apply the portable VMR jump start kit. Looking quite
perplexed, the man then seemed to fumble around on the rear deck of
his vessel. Enquiring as to his problem, the VMR crew then asked the
mans dilemma. He requested that the crew help him to find his battery.
Quite bemused that a boat owner wouldn’t know where his battery was,
the crew obliged, also connecting the jump leads, only for the vessel to
crank, but still not start. When asked about his fuel situation, given the
vessel had a V8 inboard engine, the owner advised he had put 80L of
fuel in the vessel that morning. After then advising of his journeys that
day, the crew were certain the vessel was actually out of fuel.
The vessel was towed to Mariners Cove fuel wharf where it was re-
filled with fuel. The vessel then started with no problem, departed, and
wasn’t seen again.
These sort of people keep VMR in a job.
A
A
man contacted VMR by marine radio recently stating that he
was 4 nautical miles east of Mermaid Beach, and was returning
to the Seaway at speed, as he had found a female floating in the water.
He believed her condition to be serious. The VMR Radio Operator
contacted both Water Police and Ambulance, who were quickly on scene
to wait for the vessels arrival. Paramedics quickly attended to the patient
and administered treatment for hypothermia. The lady claimed to have
been in the water for about 4 hours. She was transported to hospital,
whilst Police further investigated.