Caloundra Coast Guard saves teens after boat overturns in Bribie Bar

A Coast Guard leader says a teenager could have died attempting to cross the Bribie Bar in a tinnie after he overturned it and lost $4k of fishing gear.

A marine organisation leader says a family came close to having an empty chair this Christmas after two teens attempted a Bribie Bar crossing, overturning a tinnie and losing $4k of fishing gear.

Two teenage boys in two tinnies had to phone the Caloundra Coast Guard after they went over the Bribie Bar east of Caloundra and one overturned his boat, which started to sink.

Commander Roger Pearce said the Coast Guard received the call about 5.30am Tuesday, December 5.

“It indicated a young lad on a tinnie had gone over on the bar, in the middle of the bar, and the other was able to go and assist his mate,” he said.

“They got onto one vessel together and went further out to sea together and then contacted the radio room.”

The Caloundra Coast Guard has pleaded with parents to talk to their children about the dangers of crossing the Bribie Bar.

The Coast Guard was activated and Surf Life Saving Queensland was also ready to help.

The bar formed following the Bribie Island breakthrough in January 2022 after ex-tropical cyclone Seth.

A king tide and huge swells combined to break through part of Bribie Island, creating the Bribie Bar into the Pumicestone Passage.

The breakthrough created a fast-changing environment in the Pumicestone Passage, forming a new crossing into the ocean dubbed the Bribie Bar and resulting in sand closing up the Caloundra Bar.

“You should never ever go to sea in a three-metre vessel with a six horsepower engine,” Mr Pearce said.

“A six horsepower motor wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice custard, it’s too dangerous.

The Caloundra Coast Guard rescued two teenage boys who attempted to cross the dangerous Bribie Bar on December 5.

“They don’t have the speed to negotiate and get over these waves.”

Mr Pearce said the teenager did not see the wave that claimed his boat.

The Caloundra Bar, pictured in 2021 as it closed. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He said the boy had some explaining to do to his dad after he also lost $4000 worth of fishing gear.

The commander said life jackets were a legal requirement in vessels under 4.8m and the Coast Guard does not go out to sea without them on.

Mr Pearce said the boys were unlikely to attempt the crossing again, and also said a family had come close to having an empty chair at Christmas.

“When this kid went over, if that boat had hit him on the head, he’s gone,” he said.

The commander said he was thankful the boys were safe and wanted parents to know the Bribie Bar was a dangerous crossing.

It is the second warning the commander has made about the bar in a matter of weeks, after earlier highlighting the dangers of the eddies forming inside the bar.

Originally published as Caloundra Coast Guard saves teens after boat overturns in Bribie Bar