Four fishers rescued on trawler off Fraser Island

A teen suffering an asthma attack triggered a series of events which ended in a 15-metre fishing trawler running into trouble off Fraser Island. PHOTOS, VIDEO.

Four trawler crew members have been rescued after their boat was damaged off Fraser Island (K’gari) in the early hours of Monday morning.

The alarm was raised by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) around 2.45am after crew members on-board the trawler activated an emergency beacon.

Volunteer Marine Rescue Hervey Bay (VMR) Commodore Graeme Davies said the crew were concerned about a teenage crew member on-board who was suffering an asthma attack, and were trying to get her to Bundaberg where she could get medical attention.

Mr Davies could not comment regarding the damage to the trawler, but said the conditions at sea caused a fair amount of water to go onto the boat.

“Things got to a point where they were then concerned for the welfare of the individual, but their own welfare as well …” he said.

“They handled it very well from my perspective.”

Mr Davies said the rescue was a “good example” of all types of emergency services working together.

The female crew member was taken to Bundaberg Hospital in a stable condition.

VMR assisting a fishing trawler which activated an emergency beacon off Fraser Island on Monday morning. Photo: Marine Rescue Hervey Bay.

According to LifeFlight, the 15 metre vessel had damage to its hull and propeller, and the crew had a lifeboat ready in case they needed to abandon the ship.

The Bundaberg RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter found the trawler and crew north east of the Sandy Cape Lighthouse.

The boaties remained on-board the trawler while it was guided slowly back to Rooney Point where it was safely anchored and met by the Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR).

The LifeFlight chopper hovered above the trawler to ensure the crew were safe on their journey back to shore.

A spokesperson from Queensland Ambulance Services said paramedics were called around 2:40am and transported one patient to Bundaberg hospital in a stable condition as a precaution.