‘A simple rollover could’ve been a very serious situation’: Plea to wear life jackets after river rescue

A woman was on the edge of hypothermia as Marine Rescue crew rescued her and her husband after their boat rolled over this week.

A Marine Rescue NSW commander has issued a warning about life jackets after the river rescue of a couple from the Nambucca River - one of which couldn’t swim.

While both the husband and wife were returned safely to shore, commander Gary Nichols he said it could’ve been a very serious situation.

“The boat overturned just near the (Nambucca Heads) golf course and drifted around 500m before they could get to sure,” Mr Nichols said.

“They were lucky, the boat had a canopy and when it overturned they were able to hang on, and the canopy dragged in the water.”

A boat recovered by Nambucca Heads Marine Rescue after it overturned in the river.

The incident occurred late last week and a member of the public on the golf course saw the boat overturn and called police, who sent the Marine Rescue unit to rescue.

The crew used jetskis to reach the couple, who had managed to just reach the bottom of the river and climb onto a sand island.

“The woman was already in the early stages of hypothermia,” he said. “She shivered all the way back to shore on the back of the jetski.”

When the couple were safely back on land, the Marine Rescue crew with the help of the owner of the hire boat retrieved the boat from the middle of the navigation lane.

“We managed to get it up on to land, and tipped it over to get the water out of it,” Mr Nichols said.

“When we looked inside, the boat was very well set up, including life jackets … that the couple had chosen not to wear.”

“The hire operator had given them all the proper safety briefings, and we gave them a bit of a talking to about wearing them next time – and told them that without them the simple rollover could’ve been a very serious situation” Mr Nichols said.

“They were very appreciative of the rescue.”

Nambucca Marine Rescue members head out on jetskis to rescue a couple whose boat overturned in the Nambucca River

Mr Nichols said that with recent heavy seas, there had been some ferocious tides in the river, and they had been lucky not to have to navigate over the bar for any ocean rescues recently.

He said they were unable to use their Marine Rescue boat due to a large sand build-up that had formed near their base.

“It’s been building for a while, and we’ve been unable to get assistance in solving the issues we’ve had,” Mr Nichols said.

“We’ve had a couple of proposals and we’re working with council to try and come up with something.”