Disaster avoided: Group trapped in boat on Yarra rowed to safety after drifting downstream

IT TOOK a team of 10 emergency services personnel including the Police Airwing to rescue a group stuck in a rowboat on the Yarra in Kew yesterday.

A GROUP of four people trapped in a rowboat on the Yarra yesterday evening certainly did not row it gently and merrily down the stream.

Camberwell Police and Hawthorn Metropolitan Fire Brigade were called out to assist the group in distress after their boat drifted 1500 metres downstream from Fairfield to Bellbird Park, Kew about 5.30pm on Sunday.

After the boat drifted, they struggled to row it back upstream, so they clung on to a tree branch to stop it from drifting even further.

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When they realised climbing out of the boat was also not an option due to the steep embankment, one of them called triple-0.

Hawthorn MFB station officer Marty Kahnsitz led the “swift water response”.

“They were very lucky a friend was waiting in the carpark when we arrived and had the group’s location on a phone tracking app,” he said.

“When we got there they were very cold and tired, they had had enough and just given up.”

With Victoria Police Airwing hovering overhead, Mr Kahnsitz managed to climb down the embankment, get inside the boat and row the group of four towards the nearest boat ramp.

“They had been on water for three hours which is a long time, especially in very cold and windy conditions,” he said.

“I know how to row a boat and know the landscape very well, so thought rowing myself would be the best option.”

Mr Kahnsitz said the 40-minute rescue could have “easily” been a disaster.

“Part of the job is that you have to be prepared for everything and anything,” he said.

“Safety and wellbeing is the most important, so always call triple-0 if in any doubt and always listen to safety advice when hiring a boat or anything else you are not familiar with using or manouvering.

“Always carry mobile phones on you — this was crucial in this rescue.”

No one was injured in the incident.

@AnthonyPiovesan