Girl, 8, falls under Sydney ferry
DRAMATIC vision has emerged of the terrifying moment a young girl falls under a Sydney ferry, and frantic family members rush to save her.
NSW
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DRAMATIC vision has emerged of the terrifying moment a young girl falls under a Sydney ferry, and frantic family members rush to save her.
The footage shows the young girl running off the ferry, which had just pulled up at Barangaroo, along the gangway before doubling back towards her family.
In a split second, the eight-year-old girl plunges into the gap between the ferry and the wharf.
Frantic family members and ferry staff rush to the little girl’s aid, and just 15 seconds later she was winched out.
Transport NSW confirmed with The Daily Telegraph that between January and August last year, 13 customers slipped while catching a ferry.
“The vast majority of customer journeys on trains, buses, light rail and ferries are completed safely,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.
“Between January and August last year, 13 customers slipped or fell catching a ferry.
“Ferry wharves and ferries are busy places so it is important that customers pay attention to what is going on around them.”
Ferry worker Jean-Pierre Lombard told 7 News said the youngster was lucky to have survived unharmed.
“We were able to retrieve her quickly ... safe ... but it could have been much worse,’ Mr Lombard said.
“You get sucked if not through the propeller at least along the hull and behind the boat.”
While the ferry is still running, the water between the ferry and the wharf turns into a surging whirlpool.
That has the force to suck someone further under the boat and potentially into the propellers.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance told the network: “It was an accident, but it is a timely reminder on the network to grab your littlies’ hand and hold it tight.”
