NewsBite

Fisherman fights for life after being swept into ocean

The survival of a rock fisherman whose heart stopped after he was swept into the ocean in Sydney’s south has been heralded as a Christmas Day miracle. The man has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.

Rock fisherman has been swept off the beach at Sydney's Kurnell

The survival of a rock fisherman whose heart stopped after he was swept into the ocean in Sydney’s south has been heralded as a Christmas Day miracle.

Emergency services were called to Kurnell just before 8.30am on Wednesday after reports a fisherman had fallen from the rocks and been taken into the water.

The man, believed to be in his 50s, scrambled to get a shore but was smashed against the rocks badly injuring his head.

Police at the scene today. Picture: 7News
Police at the scene today. Picture: 7News
The man was airlifted to St George Hospital. Picture: 7News
The man was airlifted to St George Hospital. Picture: 7News
Emergency services at Voodoo Point. Picture: 7News
Emergency services at Voodoo Point. Picture: 7News

He was winched out of the water by crew members in the NSW Ambulance Toll Helicopter before doctors started to analyse his injuries.

The fisherman had gone into traumatic cardiac arrest while in the water and doctors worked on him for 45 minutes before he was revived.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Jason Rutherford said the man had done the right thing by wearing a life jacket.

“This is a timely reminder over the holiday period to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you,” he said.

“This gentleman had done the right thing in wearing a life jacket which kept him afloat while he went into cardiac arrest. Simple steps like this can be the difference in the outcome of a patient.”

Paramedics treated the man at the scene before he was airlifted to St George Hospital in critical condition.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/fisherman-fights-for-life-after-being-swept-into-ocean/news-story/fd419aa782ef39b3b7941cfdc96130f5