SunnyCoastMark
24-12-2012, 08:34 AM
From The Sunshine Coast Daily:-
Noosa bar claims three boats in three hours
Comments (1) » Kate Clifford 24th Dec 2012 6:00 AM
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THE Noosa Bar has lived up to its dangerous reputation, claiming three boats in a matter of hours.
The vessels all came to grief at the mouth of the Noosa River between 9.30am and 2pm yesterday, with inexperience and a large swell being blamed.
Noosa Coast Guard, water police and surf lifesavers worked almost continuously throughout the morning to rescue the occupants of the boats, some of whom were reportedly not wearing life jackets.
In all, six people were saved from the water, some of them making their own way to the North Shore side of the rivermouth.
The first boat flipped as it crossed the bar with two people aboard at 9.30am.
Less than two hours later, another pair of fishermen fell victim to the two-metre swell. The third boat flipped shortly before 2pm, leaving another two people floundering in the water.
Senior Constable Murray Lyons of Sunshine Coast Water Police said no one was injured in the incidents but the outcome could have been a lot worse.
"Bars are hazardous pieces of water and things can go dangerously wrong for people," he said. "People have died on bars in Queensland before so it is certainly a concern when inexperienced people take them on."
Roger Wind saw the second boat flip and said he was not surprised.
"The boat was too light in the front end and was having trouble going over the little waves," Mr Wind said. "We were watching and thinking 'something bad is going to happen here'."
Snr Cont Lyons said the accidents were a timely warning for boaters.
"The key is for people to contact the Coast Guard and let them know they are going out over the bar and if they are worried to ask for assistance," he said.
"It is all about understanding conditions out there because they are a lot different on the water than when you are looking from shore."
Be Careful out there guys.........:-?
Noosa bar claims three boats in three hours
Comments (1) » Kate Clifford 24th Dec 2012 6:00 AM
STORY TOOLS
Use this content
THE Noosa Bar has lived up to its dangerous reputation, claiming three boats in a matter of hours.
The vessels all came to grief at the mouth of the Noosa River between 9.30am and 2pm yesterday, with inexperience and a large swell being blamed.
Noosa Coast Guard, water police and surf lifesavers worked almost continuously throughout the morning to rescue the occupants of the boats, some of whom were reportedly not wearing life jackets.
In all, six people were saved from the water, some of them making their own way to the North Shore side of the rivermouth.
The first boat flipped as it crossed the bar with two people aboard at 9.30am.
Less than two hours later, another pair of fishermen fell victim to the two-metre swell. The third boat flipped shortly before 2pm, leaving another two people floundering in the water.
Senior Constable Murray Lyons of Sunshine Coast Water Police said no one was injured in the incidents but the outcome could have been a lot worse.
"Bars are hazardous pieces of water and things can go dangerously wrong for people," he said. "People have died on bars in Queensland before so it is certainly a concern when inexperienced people take them on."
Roger Wind saw the second boat flip and said he was not surprised.
"The boat was too light in the front end and was having trouble going over the little waves," Mr Wind said. "We were watching and thinking 'something bad is going to happen here'."
Snr Cont Lyons said the accidents were a timely warning for boaters.
"The key is for people to contact the Coast Guard and let them know they are going out over the bar and if they are worried to ask for assistance," he said.
"It is all about understanding conditions out there because they are a lot different on the water than when you are looking from shore."
Be Careful out there guys.........:-?