AT 12.45pm on Sunday, July 6 Marine Rescue Narooma was advised by Marine Rescue Headquarters that a light aircraft had crashed into the sea off Batemans Bay.
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The call went out to the five man crew of the Narooma rescue vessel which departed the jetty 17 minutes later.
The rescue boat then headed to Batemans Bay and luckily the sea was reasonably calm. The boat travelled at the fastest possible speed of 32 knots and arrived at the search site in 40 minutes.
The marine rescue Narooma vessel rendezvoused with other vessels which included five Marine rescue boats, a Marine Parks boat, a NSW Life Saving vessel and two helicopters. A victim was recovered from the sea by the Westpac rescue helicopter. The search patterns continued until dark, and with no survivors being found the Narooma Boat returned to base arriving after 7pm.
On Sunday, July 13 divers found the body of a second victim was located in the wreckage of the plane.
John Young, the Commander of Marine Rescue Narooma said he was extremely pleased with the professionalism and quick response of the Narooma Team, the new rescue vessel also performed perfectly.
Terry Vincent
Publicity Officer Marine Rescue Narooma
