Stock Photo of rescue vessel Central Coast 22

The Marine Rescue Central Coast ‘on-call’ volunteers were contacted at their homes around 7:30pm on Saturday night 17^th Dec to assist a family on a 6.0m runabout at Blackwall (about halfway between Orange Grove and Lions Park Woy Woy.) The family of five, two adults and three children, had called 000 when their boat had engine failure. They were concerned about safety due to approaching darkness and the forecast southerly change. Water Police tasked Marine Rescue Central Coast to assist.

The rescue boat crew, Skipper Phil Page and crew Robert M Smith, soon had Central Coast 22 ready to go from the Point Clare Base. In darkness, as the rescue crew approached the area where the runabout was located the family were asked to shine a light to identify their vessel. It seems that most on board had a torch and the runabout was readily located. The tow to Gosford Boat Ramp was completed just before the expected southerly arrived on Brisbane Water to the relief of all concerned.