Fishermen’s Protector: SES Rescue vessel Protector was active during the search and rescue operation.
CEDUNA SES was called out to search for three missing fishermen on Tuesday May 15.
SES volunteers responded at around 8:00pm after the fishermen were found to be overdue to return to the Thevenard boat ramp.
SES vessel ‘Protector’ searched around the surrounding areas off the bay including Waterwitch Channel, Goalan Rocks, St Peter’s Island, Franklin Island and Evans Island.
Protector was assisted in its search by Fisheries Patrol vessel ‘Bluefin.’
SES volunteers Perry Will, Danny Ronan, Rod Thomas and Peter Codrington were onboard the Protector during the search.
Due to the rough weather conditions and the large search area, the Police Water Response unit called for the use of an AMSA Rescue Aircraft with its advanced technology to assist them in their search.
The rescue aircraft located the fishermen and their disabled vessel near St Peter’s Island and was able to direct search crews to their location.
The fishermen were allegedly able to use the lids of their eskies to paddle the boat towards the relative safety of St Peter’s Island where they remained until they were rescued.
SES Volunter Perry Will said this was just an unfortunate incident and the fishermen had good sense to seek a safe location.
“This was an unfortunate incident, they were lucky to have the sense to use their esky lids to paddle into St Peters Island for shelter,” he said.
“ It was smart of them to attempt this, if they had stayed where they were in those conditions, there is no telling what the outcome may have been.”
The three fishermen were unharmed but cold and were taken onboard Protector, which also towed their vessel back to Thevenard.
The rescue concluded at around 6:00am on Wednesday May 16.