Fisho needed ‘urgent’ medical rescue after sea snake bite southwest of Darwin

A fisho who was bitten by a sea snake while on a trawler almost 400km away from Darwin has been whisked to safety with the help of a WA rescue chopper. See the footage.

A Northern Territory fisho has been rescued from a fishing trawler after they were bitten by a sea snake.

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson said the patient was “in urgent need of medical evacuation” about 9.15am Monday.

At 9.15am Monday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority was contacted by CareFlight Northern Territory and informed that a crew member on a fishing vessel had been bitten by a sea snake and was in urgent need of medical evacuation.

The spokesperson said the maritime watchdog arranged for a Western Australian LifeFlight rescue helicopter to attend the scene 360km southwest of Darwin in Joseph Bonaparte Gulf.

They said the chopper arrived at 11.45am, “winched” the fisho from the trawler, and took them to Truscott where they were met with a Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft.

The spokesperson said the patient was transferred to Broome for treatment.

They said AMSA’s Cairns-based Challenger was also on scene for additional support.