At 2.30am, October 10, volunteers from Marine Rescue Batemans Bay were tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to attend a medical emergency on the Clyde River.

Two rescue vessels were used in the four-hour operation on the fog-shrouded river, with Batemans 21 taking over from Batemans 20 to navigate the shallower up-stream waters and transport two ambulance officers to a houseboat where a man was suffering severe abdominal pain. 

“The fog was a serious problem with visibility less than 1.5m at times so our speed was severely limited,” acting regional controller Glenn Sullivan said.

“The ambulance officers stabilised the patient on the houseboat and we transferred him to Batemans 21 for transport back down river to the marina at Batemans Bay where an ambulance was waiting to take the man to hospital.

“The patient is a member of a family group that was reaching the end of their houseboat holiday on the river.

“I want to commend our volunteers who were ready to respond to this emergency at this early hour and get medical treatment to the patient,” Mr Sullivan said. 

Marine Rescue NSW reminded all boaters they have 45 bases on the NSW coast, the Alpine Lakes and the Murray River at Moama with skilled volunteers ready to provide assistance for boating emergencies.

With the 2015-16 boating season now well under way, Marine Rescue say more boaters are returning to enjoy the state’s great waterways and Marine Rescue urges all skippers to log on with their local Marine Rescue base and to ensure all aboard wear lifejackets.