Fishing trip starts and ends in disaster as trio call to be rescued three times in one day
A group of fishos had the worst luck after calling NT Water Police to be rescued three times in 24 hours.
Northern Territory
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A GROUP of fishos had the worst luck after calling NT Water Police to be rescued three times in 24 hours.
The unlucky group of two men and a woman, aged in their 20s and 30s set off yesterday morning in a 22ft vessel launched from the Dinah Beach Boat ramp.
They only made it 300m before the boat broke down and they called police for a tow back to the ramp.
NT Water Police Senior Constable First Class Stuart Winter said the trio were instructed on how to self recover, which they did.
He said the trio then launched another boat, a 5m Quintrex, and headed 22 nautical miles off shore – about 50km.
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On their way back to Darwin they ran out of fuel and the same person who called earlier that day phoned police again asking for assistance.
However because it was 2am and no one was in danger, Sen Constable said the group agreed to drop their anchor in the harbour and wait until the morning to be towed back to shore.
“During the night the anchor broke and given the strong south easterly winds they were pushed offshore and they again called cops at 8am asking for help but they gave the GPS position of where they were fishing 22 nautical miles off shore,” Sen Constable Winter said.
At this point in time the initial contact’s phone also went flat and there were issues getting in touch with the second contact on the boat.
Police launched their rescue boat and began to head out to the GPS coordinates given.
Sen Constable Winter said officers on the ground made contact with family to confirm there was only one boat on the water and not two.
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He said police also soon realised that the coordinates given were wrong and the trio were in fact in the Darwin Harbour and only 3 miles offshore.
Sen Constable Winter urged those heading out on the water to be prepared, carry an EPIRB, ensure your phone is charged and understand how to use a GPS.
He said the trio was rescued and no charges would be laid.
Originally published as Fishing trip starts and ends in disaster as trio call to be rescued three times in one day
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