A fisherman has been rescued with the help of spectators from the top of the cliffs after washing the rocks at Fingal Head today.
Key points:
- Emergency services were called after spectators saw the fisherman in the water shortly after 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
- The man is believed to have been fishing when he was swept from the rocks
- He was taken to Tweed Hospital in stable condition, but paramedics say he took some water.
The drama at the famous site in the far north of NSW unfolded this morning with people looking down from the cliffs calling triple-0 as the man struggled to stay afloat in turbulent waters that threatened with dragging it on the rocks.
Spectators yelled at the man to try to keep him alert and threw floating devices until lifeboats with jet skis could reach him.
An emergency rescue beacon (ERB) from Surf Life Saving was also activated, alerting authorities to the incident.
“There was a small crowd on the cliff. They had heard him ask for help,” said witness Mary, who asked that her full name not be used.
“He seemed pretty disoriented.”
Man struggles to stay afloat in harsh conditions. (Supplied.)
Mary said that after calling the emergency services, spectators did what they could to help, but the man was too close to the rocks for nearby surfers to approach safely.
“It was pretty frothy,” he said.
“He was disappearing under the waves, under the water. There were several times we thought he was gone.
“He didn’t seem to have any energy. He was quite charged.”
He said the man was wearing fisherman’s long pants, a sweater and boots and was holding his fishing rod.
“So I was really working to stay afloat and keep my back as much as I could,” he said.
Spectators say the fisherman was in the water for about half an hour before lifeguards on a jet ski could reach him. (Provided by: Mary Callander)
Difficult surfing conditions
Lifeguards Ty McCartney and Cody Bell arrived on a jet ski and were led by police and the public to the man.
“To begin with, I couldn’t see where I was and was trying to steer the ski with one hand and grab the angel ring (help with the float) that the boat from the boat had given me with the other hand. police, “McCartney said.
McCartney said they had to wait a few minutes to take a break from surfing to catch the man.
“It was constantly being washed down the rocks and pushed down. I just had to time it well,” he said.
“I was finally far enough away from the rocks to get in and grab it. I was luckier than nothing.”
An NSW ambulance spokesman said the man was taken to Tweed Hospital in stable condition.
He had swallowed water and had a laceration on his hand.
Surf Life Saving NSW said the emergency rescue beacon was installed after multiple incidents in the area in recent years.
Posted 1 hour 1 hour ago by dig. May 29, 2022 at 6:01 am, updated 10 minutes ago 10 minutes ago dig. May 29, 2022 at 7:11 p.m.