Drunk boatie rescued off Margaret River

A drunk man rescued from an overturned boat near Prevelly this morning should lose his boating licence, police say.

At about 10am, Margaret River Volunteer Marine Rescue Service responded to a sighting of two flares off Cow Rock near Surfers Point.

A 59-year-old Margaret River man was rescued from his upturned vessel at about 11am.

South West District Acting Duty Inspector Mick Hayes said the man, who had a fish hook through his foot, was visibly intoxicated.

“He look and smelt under the influence, and a breath test put him well over four times over the legal limit,” he said.

“It’s an idiot act that puts lives at risk including his own.”

Acting Inspector Hayes said while it was not a chargeable offence to drink alcohol while operating a recreational vessel, he did not believe the man should be on the water.

“People like that should be banned from going on the water,” he said.

“We have sent the readings to the Department of Transport for them to decide where to go from here.”