Six rescued in rough seas
Two people who suffered suspected broken arms were among six rescued in deceptively dangerous conditions off Perth’s northern beaches this morning.
Volunteer marine rescue groups have warned that today’s big swells were proving treacherous for inexperienced skippers.
About 8.30am, Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue received a call from a member of the public who said he could see someone in the water off Alkimos.
A rescue boat was sent to investigate.
About half an hour later, the Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra advised that an EPIRB had been activated about a nautical mile offshore.
Whitfords sea rescue commander Mark Carruthers said two men and one woman had been knocked off their jet ski by a wave.
“They were out there to go surfing and we believe they were hit by a wave,” he said.
“We found one person initially and the other two were found about 15 minutes later.
“The woman had a suspected broken arm.
“They were taken back to Mindarie marina and the lady was taken to Joondalup Hospital.”
Mr Carruthers said today’s conditions were fraught with danger.
“It’s a big swell running up to about four metres,” he said.
“The issue is people don’t look at the swell and they quite often anchor their boat unsafely or in the wrong position.”
Earlier this morning, Two Rocks marine rescue volunteers went to the aid of three fishermen after the skipper broke his arm.
Radio operator Neil Schorer said one of the passengers called marine rescue about 7.10am.
The men, in their 40s, were about four miles off Two Rocks Marina when a big wave hit their 7m fibreglass runabout.
“The caller reported that the skipper had hit a big wave and broken his arm,” Mr Schorer said.
“There were huge swells over the bank and because none of them had a skipper’s ticket they were a bit reluctant to bring the boat back in.
“They asked if we could go out there and escort them back in.”
St John Ambulance paramedics were waiting at the boat ramp to take the injured skipper to Joondalup Hospital
