Tiny tender’s marine rescue off Wooli, New South Wales

A family with two non-swimmers – including a child – in a micro, 2.5 metre vessel, has been rescued off the Northern NSW coast after the Victoria-bound seafarers attempted to get fuel on shore for their yacht.

A family of three, including a mother and young daughter — both non-swimmers – were in shock as a tiny vessel they were in submerged and they “ended up in the water” off Wooli in the state’s north.

The Victoria-bound seafarers anchored their yacht 50 metres offshore of Wooli and attempted to reach shore in the 2.5 metre plastic tender to get fuel as they were running short.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers received a call from the skipper of the yacht after the trio “ended up in the water” at about 12pm on Thursday.

Marine Rescue NSW Wooli 27 February 2025

“They got swamped by the big seas,” Marine Rescue NSW Wooli Inspector John Murray said.

“Then the mother and daughter couldn’t swim,” he said.

Marine Rescue NSW Wooli 27 February 2025

Volunteers from Marine Rescue Wooli assisted the family, who were in the surf break clinging to their tender.

After taking them to get fuel the “shocked and appreciative” family were taken back to their yacht which was anchored between Wooli and Wilsons Headland.

Marine Rescue NSW Wooli 27 February 2025

“They could have come in through the Wooli river mouth by the bar it would have been a lot safer,” Mr Murray said.

The family, who began their journey in Cairns are now continuing on their journey fully fuelled up.

Mr Murray said the rescue was a stark reminder to always wear life vests when you’re offshore and to log on and off with Marine Rescue on the free Marine Rescue app or via VHF Channel 16.

“And if something goes wrong we’ll come and get you.”

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