Yachtie’s lucky rescue after falling overboard off the coast of Nhulunbuy caught on film

BODYCAM videos have captured the dramatic rescue of a yachtie who was knocked overboard by a freak gust of wind and spent the night in isolated waters off the Top End coast. WATCH the VIDEOS HERE.

BODYCAM video has shown the dramatic rescue of a yachtie who fell overboard into the water due to a freak gust of wind.

The video released by NT Police and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority shows the man, Nigel Fox, in a life jacket floating in the ocean on a life raft dropped to him by a search and rescue plane.

The captivating footage shows NT Police speaking with the man and helping him into the police boat.

Mr Fox was sailing between Darwin and Nhulunbuy when he was knocked off his 10.4m yacht, SV Bosun, almost 100km out to sea, about 9.30am. He was wearing a personal locator beacon attached to his life jacket when he fell overboard.

The beacon allowed the AMSA Challenger Jet to quickly find him, some 23km away from his yacht.

The crew on-board the jet dropped Mr Fox a life raft and eventually he scrambled inside and made radio contact.

Acting Superintendent Michael Milde said due to the poor weather and heavy seas, PVV Nhulunbuy took about five hours to reach the stranded yachtie, who was overjoyed at seeing police.

Senior Constable Ben Parfitt, Nigel Fox, Constable Mark Carrington and Senior Constable Kelly Logan at Gove District Hospital. Picture: NT Police

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The return journey took another five hours and the yachtie was taken by St John Ambulance to Gove District Hospital for a check-up.

He was in good health and had no visible injuries.

A/Supt Milde and AMSA Response Centre acting manager Jamie Storrie said everyone on the search and rescue operation did a tremendous job in challenging conditions.

“The team work displayed by all agencies including AMSA, Water Police and Nhulunbuy police members certainly saved this man’s life,” A/Supt Milde said.

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“The actions of the yachtie himself are also to be commended. The fact that he was wearing a life jacket which had a personal locator beacon attached highlighted the importance of carrying and correctly using the correct safety equipment while at sea.

“The end result would have been tragic if not for this equipment.” The yacht has not been recovered as yet, however it is being tracked.

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