Elderly man dead after Narooma boat capsize

An elderly man has died and a woman has been rescued after a boat capsized at a notorious bar on the state’s south coast.

A man in his 70s has died after his boat capsized in Narooma. Picture: Facebook.

A “tragic accident” has left an elderly man dead after a boat capsized at a notorious bar on the south coast earlier today.

Emergency services were called to Narooma about 11.25am on Wednesday to reports a small boat had capsized while attempting to enter the Narooma Bar with a man and a woman on-board.

A man, believed to be in his 70s, was removed from the water by Marine Rescue personnel and taken to a nearby beach, where NSW Ambulance Paramedics perform CPR.

Despite their best efforts, they were unable to revive the man.

A woman, believed to be in her 60s, was rescued from the water by a passing boat.

She has been taken to Moruya Hospital for further treatment.

Marine Rescue NSW Monaro Zone Duty Operations Manager Glenn Sullivan said Marine Rescue, emergency services and the local boating community all “did their best”.

“The community as a whole came together and responded to the emergency call,” he said.

“Marine Rescue worked with emergency services and even the local boating community to do what we could.”

Mr Sullivan said the boat was washed to shore by the tide and was now in the hands of police.

“It’s still on the beach and police are still at the scene,” he said.

“It’s a very tragic accident. The whole community are having to now deal with this and are struggling with it at the moment.”

Locals online said they believed the boat was a “small tinny” which tipped over in the bar.

“It‘s off Bar Beach north at the moment upside down,” Julie O’Dor said.

Other locals said they saw multiple emergency services heading to the scene.

“The rescue boat just went past our unit and stopped at the boat ramp with two ambulances and police,” Sharon Smith said.

A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed police boats, Marine Rescue and a helicopter attended the scene.

Residents discussed the situation online as it unfolded.

“Police boat went out extremely quick and there’s a helicopter now too,” Sharon Smith said.

Officers from South Coast Police District and the Marine Area Command have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.