General News
16 March, 2023
SES rescue broken down boat
WHEN Camperdown’s SES volunteers headed out on Lake Bullen Merri on Monday, they were not expecting a trio in need of assistance.
WHEN Camperdown’s SES volunteers headed out on Lake Bullen Merri on Monday, they were not expecting a trio in need of assistance.
The volunteers were doing unscheduled refresher training in the lead-up to a boating course when they saw a boat rowing with a paddle and a set of skis into a head wind.
Unit controller Michael Carman said the three occupants had tried waving a couple of other boats down for help but had no luck.
“They were just having motor issues,” he said.
“They said it was the third time in the ten years of owning the boat that it’s actually broken down.
“It’s just a freak incident, really.”
The volunteers went over to their boat, attaching a tow line to bring it back to the boat ramp.
Mr Carman said the rescue also provided some extra practice in towing.
“We were doing some additional training; one of our members is doing a boat course,” he said.
“He’s halfway through it now, so we were just practicing anchoring, map-reading and practicing for if we had a fire on our boat.
“We were there at the right place at the right time.”
Mr Carman said VICSES has been delivering Land Based Swift Water Rescue training across the state since 2014, with more than 300 members now qualified.
“VICSES volunteers often support other agencies, such as LSV, Victoria Police SAR and CFA in search and rescue operations around our waterways,” he said.
“We know that Victorians are spending leisure time in and around waterways, meaning more people are using recreational vessels, often with less experience.
“We would encourage anyone using our lakes and waterways to make full use of wearable safety devices, and safety features on your vessel.”