Couple forced to tread water for hours after boat sinks 10km offshore from Dundee
A COUPLE in their 60s was forced to float and tread water for hours in the ocean 10km off shore of Dundee after their boat sank
Northern Territory
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A TRUSTY EvaKool Esky was all Veronica and Geoff Warham were left with when their boat suddenly sunk in 30m deep water off shore of Dundee.
The couple, who are seasoned anglers, clung to their Esky for two-and-a-half hours on Thursday morning waiting for help.
The Dundee residents had headed out early to catch the tide for a day out on the water in their 6m boat near the Peron Islands.
Mr Warham, 68, said they stopped in a popular spot for a quick dip, about 4 nautical miles from Point Blaze, when their boat started to take in water.
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Within a minute the boat had sunk, which they believe was due to a cracked hull.
“That whole time we were both hanging on to the Esky with no life jackets,” Mr Warham said.
After diving some 10 times, Mr Warham was able to find the EPIRB, that Ms Warham was able to activate at 7.45am.
The distress call prompted a response from water police, an Australian Border Force aircraft and a helicopter from Katherine.
“I wasn’t scared of crocodiles,” he said. “Veronica was scared of sharks.”
Veronica, 67, said: “I kept saying is that you or a shark?”
While their Esky was full of water, lunch and beers they weren’t game to open the lid in case it tipped and sunk or filled with water.
Fellow Dundee resident Pete Gower, who was going out to fish as well, got the call from staff at the Lodge of Dundee that the Warham's were missing and jumped to action on the advice from Paul from the Water Police unit.
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When he arrived at the area with partner Kate Napper they noticed a helicopter hovering above another boat with three blokes on board who appeared to be fishing without any concern. “We just heard on the radio that the chopper had found the boat and everyone seemed OK and had lines in the water,” Mr Gower said.
“Paul said ‘I’m not happy with that and I want a visual and verbal confirmation and we need to know they are OK’.”
Mr Gower said it was lucky they spoke to the three men who said they had seen a boat in the distance earlier in the day. Ms Napper then spotted a small white speck in the distance and they raced over there to find the Warham's clinging to the Esky.
“They were bloody lucky, very lucky and lucky that we happened to know the area,” he said.
“I said to them, ‘I reckon I would have found you even if the EPIRB hadn’t gone off because they were right on the spot where I was going’.”
A Water Police officer said it was important to note the EPIRB was correctly registered, which helped police in responding to the incident.
THE ORDEAL
6.30am: The Warham's launch their boat.
7.30am: They pull up about 4 nautical miles from Point Blaze, at which point the boat sinks.
7.45am: Veronica activates the EPIRB then the couple wait for help, floating for two-and-a-half hours.
10.30am: They are rescued by Pete Gower and Kate Napper.
Originally published as Couple forced to tread water for hours after boat sinks 10km offshore from Dundee