FIVE Victorian tourists were tossed into the sea when their fishing boat capsized on a rough Narooma bar crossing at around 12.30pm on Easter Friday.
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A 20-year-old woman ended up trapped under the vessel for a short time before she was rescued along with the four other males by surfers that were out on the bar break.
Narooma police said the surfers, including a few ex-young locals, were able to swim the boaters, who were wearing life jackets, back to shore.
The boat was apparently coming back through the bar and got into a wave when the skipper reportedly attempted to turn away and was then swamped by another waves from the back.
Police spoke to Fisheries officers who had just come in through the bar and they described the crossing as rough with the tide just turning from low.
The woman who was trapped in an air pocket under the boat had trouble getting out due to the buoyancy of her life jacket.
Also responding to accident was a rubber duck from the Narooma Surf Life Saving Club, the Narooma Marine Rescue vessel and the Westpac Lifesaver 3 helicopter, but by then all involved were on the beach.
The 69-year-old skipper was taken to hospital for observation, as was a 60-year-old man complaining of back pain.
Two other males, aged 56 and 17, and the 20-year-old woman were treated on the scene for shock.
The boaters were from Melton South and Mount Martha.
The boat ended up on the beach north of the bar entrance and recovery was being organised by NSW Maritime.
Coincidentally, around the same time there was a motorbike accident on a private property near Bodalla and the four-wheel-drive ambulance from Bermagui was responding that accident when it was diverted to the boating mishap.
The Snowy Hydro SouthCare rescue helicopter was tasked to the Narooma area for the retrieval of that patient.
The last boating accident on the Narooma bar took place in April 2014 when another fishing boat capsized in similar circumstances - see related stories below.
Surf club report
Narooma Surf Life Saving Club captain Ben Bate reports that all five people had been brought onto Narooma Bar Beach when lifesavers arrived and from all reports they made it there in PFD’s with the assistance of Dan Efraemson, Daniel Simpson, Joe Nugent and Kane Mood.
“From reports I understand that Joe Nugent recovered a young girl who was trapped under the overturned boat in the surf zone by diving in under the boat after hearing her screams,” he said.
“When we arrived Dan was in control of one patient with suspected spinal injuries and was doing an outstanding job ensuring he was stabilised until ambos arrived.
“It is quite possible this incident could have turned out tragically if it were not for their actions and as current and former surf club members we can all be extremely proud of what they did.”
Bystanders help out
Melissa Jacobs who was at the scene let us know via email that all taken to hospital were later discharged in the afternoon.
“I assisted the family members who'd come to collect their families belongings and take it to the car,” she wrote.
“While doing this, a local gentleman named John stood holding a rope to stop the up turned boat floating away.
Two young teenagers named Michael Autry and Jack Forsyth from Victoria stayed and also helped with keeping the boat from drifting away, they also waded into the sea to retrieve items that were being washed ashore.
“All three did an amazing job at helping out. We all stayed until the boat was removed by an excavator to the edge of the car park where it was to be picked up.
“I'm sending you this message as I was pleased to see the genuine ‘Aussie spirit’ and how people lend a hand and assist others when needed.”
