Latest news with #AustralianMaritimeSafetyAuthority
West Australian
26-05-2025
- West Australian
Water police issue 'life or death' warning to boaties after recent string of rescues from capsized vessels
Water police have issued a 'life or death' warning to unprepared boaties after rescuing four people from overturned vessels in the ocean last week. Officers rescued people from two separate overturned vessels on Thursday, with the first unfolding about 3.45pm in waters off Rockingham. The overturned catamaran was located by police about 25 minutes following the first distress call, before a man wearing a life jacket, the sole occupant, was found. He was uninjured after clinging on to the boat. And less than four hours later police were alerted to an EPIRB activation by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Coral Bay about 8.20pm. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority detected the vessel before a fishing charter boat was called in to assist. The overturned boat, and three men in the water, were located after a flare was sighted. Police said their boat capsized due to large swell. 'The trio had been in the water for approximately one hour before they were able to activate the EPIRB, due to difficulty accessing it beneath the overturned hull,' a police spokeswoman said. They were each rescued before being assessed by paramedics. Water police acting senior sergeant Diana Flint said the spate of incidents served as a critical reminder for boaties to be prepared. 'All vessel users—in particular those on small watercraft—are encouraged to always wear a suitable life jacket, and carry a registered GPS enabled PLB or EPIRB to alert authorities to emergency situations,' Sen. Sgt Flint said. 'This was a quick response which resulted in the safe rescue of these individuals. 'It serves as a serious reminder of the dangers of the ocean and the need for skippers to exercise caution, ensure they have the right equipment on board in case of an emergency, and pay attention to weather forecasts. 'A registered beacon ensures police and other emergency services can respond and assist as soon as possible— which could be the difference between life and death.'
Perth Now
26-05-2025
- Perth Now
Cops warn boaties about ocean dangers after rescue surge
Water police have issued a 'life or death' warning to unprepared boaties after rescuing four people from overturned vessels in the ocean last week. Officers rescued people from two separate overturned vessels on Thursday, with the first unfolding about 3.45pm in waters off Rockingham. The overturned catamaran was located by police about 25 minutes following the first distress call, before a man wearing a life jacket, the sole occupant, was found. He was uninjured after clinging on to the boat. And less than four hours later police were alerted to an EPIRB activation by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Coral Bay about 8.20pm. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority detected the vessel before a fishing charter boat was called in to assist. The overturned boat, and three men in the water, were located after a flare was sighted. Police said their boat capsized due to large swell. 'The trio had been in the water for approximately one hour before they were able to activate the EPIRB, due to difficulty accessing it beneath the overturned hull,' a police spokeswoman said. They were each rescued before being assessed by paramedics. Water police acting senior sergeant Diana Flint said the spate of incidents served as a critical reminder for boaties to be prepared. 'All vessel users—in particular those on small watercraft—are encouraged to always wear a suitable life jacket, and carry a registered GPS enabled PLB or EPIRB to alert authorities to emergency situations,' Sen. Sgt Flint said. 'This was a quick response which resulted in the safe rescue of these individuals. 'It serves as a serious reminder of the dangers of the ocean and the need for skippers to exercise caution, ensure they have the right equipment on board in case of an emergency, and pay attention to weather forecasts. 'A registered beacon ensures police and other emergency services can respond and assist as soon as possible— which could be the difference between life and death.'
West Australian
12-05-2025
- West Australian
American lighthouse tour group can't get enough of Geraldton's Point Moore landmark
The Point Moore lighthouse is iconic to Geraldton and the Mid West but its fan base continues to spread globally, with a tour group of American tourists recently falling in love with the local landmark. Late last month on an especially windy day, a group of about 30 US tourists — on a tour visiting dozens of lighthouses across Australia's coastline — stopped in Geraldton to get up close to the city's 34m tall candy-striped structure. The 147-year-old tower is the tallest steel lighthouse on mainland Australia and has a unique colour scheme compared to many other lighthouses. Nearing the end of their tour, organised by the US Lighthouse Society, the Point Moore beacon was a favourite of many. Thanks to the Batavia Coast Maritime Heritage Association, the lighthouse was opened to the group, who were allowed to step inside and explore the base. 'This one ranks pretty high because it's very tall and the colours are phenomenal and the structure that it's made of is beyond even imaginative,' tour leader Kelly Bowers said. Darlene Chisholm, from Albion in Michigan, isn't sure if she's a world record-holder, but she well could be. 'I'm not quite up to date on my count, but I've seen over 4500 lighthouses . . . there are different definitions of what is a lighthouse,' she said. Cheryl Kelly, from San Clemente in California, has been to 'probably 800' and admits she'll 'never catch up' to her travelling mate. On the appeal, Ms Chisholm simply said 'they just call me'. Fellow tour member Pamela La Fontaine, from Ashburn in Virginia, elaborated on what draws her to lighthouses. 'They're beautiful, they're by the sea, they help save lives and they have great stories . . . sometimes very sad stories,' she said. 'To be able to go inside and see the spiral stairs that's just an absolute honour.' Of the 31 Australian lighthouses the group had visited by the time they reached Geraldton, they had only been allowed to climb two of them. For safety reasons, the public cannot climb the 127 steps to the top of the Point Moore lighthouse, which is owned and operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. But the BCMHA envisages one day of being able to develop a lighthouse precinct, which could offer guided tours to the top. This possibility was strongly supported by the lighthouse's newest fans. 'You get a group like us, the real bonus for us is if we get to climb to the top. There are other groups out there that are just as enthusiastic,' Ms Kelly said. Ms Bowers added: 'You would be able to make money off it because people would pay to climb to the top of this lighthouse, it's a very good fundraiser to keep the lighthouses going.' Ms Chisholm said while it was understandable why some lighthouses were off limits to climb, when the opportunity arose it was a 'totally awesome' experience. 'Even with a cane, I'd climb this lighthouse,' she said.
The Advertiser
12-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Inquest to explore mystery of what happened to missing boatie Ashley McKellar
A CORONIAL inquest on Wednesday will attempt to provide answers to the mystery disappearance of Ashley McKellar, an experienced boatie who vanished without a trace after heading out of Swansea Heads on a clear day nearly two years ago. Mr McKellar, 43, a popular member of the Lake Macquarie sailing community, an engineer and a master instructor and fourth degree black belt in karate, was last seen at Bolton Point about 8.30am on June 14, 2023. Police believe Mr McKellar launched his boat, a Telewater 4.8 metre aluminium runabout, from the lake access at Bolton Point about 10.30am that day. But by about 6.30pm, when he could not be contacted or located, his family raised the alarm. Authorities launched a multi-agency search, including helicopter crews, water police, five Marine Rescue vessels and surf lifesavers and spent the following days scouring the coastline from Anna Bay to Norah Head. Conditions were reportedly clear with light winds and half-metre seas and an Australian Maritime Safety Authority aircraft dropped datum marker buoys to assist with drift modelling to determine the search area. However, the day after Mr McKellar was reported missing, his boat was found abandoned 20 nautical miles offshore. He is suspected to have drowned. But a coronial inquest in NSW State Coroner's Court on Wednesday will focus on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, whether he could still be alive and, if not, whether a manner of death can be determined. Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre at Warners Bay said in an online memorial that Mr McKellar had travelled extensively, including multiple times to Japan to study. "Shihan Ashley McKellar, a fourth degree black belt, has trained in Chitokai karate since his early teen years," the memorial reads. "He has travelled the world studying martial arts, spending a year at a Shaolin temple, training in Capoeira in Brazil and Tai Chi in Ireland. "Shihan Ash was lost at sea in 2023. "We will always remember his dedication, integrity, humility, and generosity. "His contributions to Ryusei Chitokai Karate live on in our memories of him." Scott Ellis, an old friend, described Mr McKellar as an "absolutely amazing person" who was "always smiling and full of life and energy" and recounted how the Bolton Point man had once spent six months in a martial arts monastery in order to get out of his comfort zone. The coronial inquest is listed for a one-day hearing before Deputy State Corner Magistrate Rebecca Hosking. A CORONIAL inquest on Wednesday will attempt to provide answers to the mystery disappearance of Ashley McKellar, an experienced boatie who vanished without a trace after heading out of Swansea Heads on a clear day nearly two years ago. Mr McKellar, 43, a popular member of the Lake Macquarie sailing community, an engineer and a master instructor and fourth degree black belt in karate, was last seen at Bolton Point about 8.30am on June 14, 2023. Police believe Mr McKellar launched his boat, a Telewater 4.8 metre aluminium runabout, from the lake access at Bolton Point about 10.30am that day. But by about 6.30pm, when he could not be contacted or located, his family raised the alarm. Authorities launched a multi-agency search, including helicopter crews, water police, five Marine Rescue vessels and surf lifesavers and spent the following days scouring the coastline from Anna Bay to Norah Head. Conditions were reportedly clear with light winds and half-metre seas and an Australian Maritime Safety Authority aircraft dropped datum marker buoys to assist with drift modelling to determine the search area. However, the day after Mr McKellar was reported missing, his boat was found abandoned 20 nautical miles offshore. He is suspected to have drowned. But a coronial inquest in NSW State Coroner's Court on Wednesday will focus on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, whether he could still be alive and, if not, whether a manner of death can be determined. Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre at Warners Bay said in an online memorial that Mr McKellar had travelled extensively, including multiple times to Japan to study. "Shihan Ashley McKellar, a fourth degree black belt, has trained in Chitokai karate since his early teen years," the memorial reads. "He has travelled the world studying martial arts, spending a year at a Shaolin temple, training in Capoeira in Brazil and Tai Chi in Ireland. "Shihan Ash was lost at sea in 2023. "We will always remember his dedication, integrity, humility, and generosity. "His contributions to Ryusei Chitokai Karate live on in our memories of him." Scott Ellis, an old friend, described Mr McKellar as an "absolutely amazing person" who was "always smiling and full of life and energy" and recounted how the Bolton Point man had once spent six months in a martial arts monastery in order to get out of his comfort zone. The coronial inquest is listed for a one-day hearing before Deputy State Corner Magistrate Rebecca Hosking. A CORONIAL inquest on Wednesday will attempt to provide answers to the mystery disappearance of Ashley McKellar, an experienced boatie who vanished without a trace after heading out of Swansea Heads on a clear day nearly two years ago. Mr McKellar, 43, a popular member of the Lake Macquarie sailing community, an engineer and a master instructor and fourth degree black belt in karate, was last seen at Bolton Point about 8.30am on June 14, 2023. Police believe Mr McKellar launched his boat, a Telewater 4.8 metre aluminium runabout, from the lake access at Bolton Point about 10.30am that day. But by about 6.30pm, when he could not be contacted or located, his family raised the alarm. Authorities launched a multi-agency search, including helicopter crews, water police, five Marine Rescue vessels and surf lifesavers and spent the following days scouring the coastline from Anna Bay to Norah Head. Conditions were reportedly clear with light winds and half-metre seas and an Australian Maritime Safety Authority aircraft dropped datum marker buoys to assist with drift modelling to determine the search area. However, the day after Mr McKellar was reported missing, his boat was found abandoned 20 nautical miles offshore. He is suspected to have drowned. But a coronial inquest in NSW State Coroner's Court on Wednesday will focus on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, whether he could still be alive and, if not, whether a manner of death can be determined. Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre at Warners Bay said in an online memorial that Mr McKellar had travelled extensively, including multiple times to Japan to study. "Shihan Ashley McKellar, a fourth degree black belt, has trained in Chitokai karate since his early teen years," the memorial reads. "He has travelled the world studying martial arts, spending a year at a Shaolin temple, training in Capoeira in Brazil and Tai Chi in Ireland. "Shihan Ash was lost at sea in 2023. "We will always remember his dedication, integrity, humility, and generosity. "His contributions to Ryusei Chitokai Karate live on in our memories of him." Scott Ellis, an old friend, described Mr McKellar as an "absolutely amazing person" who was "always smiling and full of life and energy" and recounted how the Bolton Point man had once spent six months in a martial arts monastery in order to get out of his comfort zone. The coronial inquest is listed for a one-day hearing before Deputy State Corner Magistrate Rebecca Hosking. A CORONIAL inquest on Wednesday will attempt to provide answers to the mystery disappearance of Ashley McKellar, an experienced boatie who vanished without a trace after heading out of Swansea Heads on a clear day nearly two years ago. Mr McKellar, 43, a popular member of the Lake Macquarie sailing community, an engineer and a master instructor and fourth degree black belt in karate, was last seen at Bolton Point about 8.30am on June 14, 2023. Police believe Mr McKellar launched his boat, a Telewater 4.8 metre aluminium runabout, from the lake access at Bolton Point about 10.30am that day. But by about 6.30pm, when he could not be contacted or located, his family raised the alarm. Authorities launched a multi-agency search, including helicopter crews, water police, five Marine Rescue vessels and surf lifesavers and spent the following days scouring the coastline from Anna Bay to Norah Head. Conditions were reportedly clear with light winds and half-metre seas and an Australian Maritime Safety Authority aircraft dropped datum marker buoys to assist with drift modelling to determine the search area. However, the day after Mr McKellar was reported missing, his boat was found abandoned 20 nautical miles offshore. He is suspected to have drowned. But a coronial inquest in NSW State Coroner's Court on Wednesday will focus on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, whether he could still be alive and, if not, whether a manner of death can be determined. Hunter Valley Martial Arts Centre at Warners Bay said in an online memorial that Mr McKellar had travelled extensively, including multiple times to Japan to study. "Shihan Ashley McKellar, a fourth degree black belt, has trained in Chitokai karate since his early teen years," the memorial reads. "He has travelled the world studying martial arts, spending a year at a Shaolin temple, training in Capoeira in Brazil and Tai Chi in Ireland. "Shihan Ash was lost at sea in 2023. "We will always remember his dedication, integrity, humility, and generosity. "His contributions to Ryusei Chitokai Karate live on in our memories of him." Scott Ellis, an old friend, described Mr McKellar as an "absolutely amazing person" who was "always smiling and full of life and energy" and recounted how the Bolton Point man had once spent six months in a martial arts monastery in order to get out of his comfort zone. The coronial inquest is listed for a one-day hearing before Deputy State Corner Magistrate Rebecca Hosking.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Chopper Captures Moment Fisherman Rescues Stranded Sailor off Queensland Coast
A stranded sailor was rescued off North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, on Monday, April 7, with the assistance of a fisherman and the Sunshine Coast-based LifeFlight aeromedical crew. The sailor set off a distress alarm, with the rescue helicopter crew launching a search for the man at about 4:40 am. The man was found atop his overturned vessel about 3.5 nautical miles offshore, LifeFlight said in a media release. 'A fisherman nearby responded to a request for help from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and helped the man onto his boat before taking him to shore,' LifeFlight said. This footage, taken from the chopper, shows the fisherman traveling toward the stranded sailor and helping him onto his vessel. The man, who was in his 50s, was assessed by the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) but did not require further medical assistance. Credit: LifeFlight via Storyful
