Two men have been rescued by a good samaritan after their boat sank in the Daly River, leaving them stranded for two days.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pair were travelling from the Daly River Boat Ramp towards Anson Bay when their boat struck something under water, with the boat sinking within seconds.
They were unable to trigger their emergency beacon or get their mobile phones before the boat sank, so they swam to a nearby island.
The men made a 'HELP' sign using the lid of a cooler and spent the next two nights waiting for help with no food or fresh water.
A skipper from another boat spotted the men on Saturday morning and rescued them.
OTHER NEWS:
They were taken to hospital and discharged the same evening.
Acting Sergeant Troy Harris from the Water Police Section said the men did the right thing in the circumstances.
"It appears the men had taken every safety precaution prior to this trip. They had a registered EPIRB with them and the skipper had registered their trip with AMSARC, with an expected return date of Sunday 14 November, so they were not considered overdue," he said.
"When they got into trouble, their safety equipment was not readily accessible in the short time they had before sinking. They swam directly for the nearest land and made efforts to attract attention. Importantly, they stayed put.
"This incident highlights the need for a 'grab bag' with safety gear that is easily accessible, because the unexpected can happen, and it can happen in a matter of seconds.
"The men are very lucky to have survived this ordeal, given the remoteness of the area, the presence of saltwater crocodiles and the extreme heat at this time of year.
"We especially commend the skipper of the rescue vessel for saving these two men."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark katherinetimes.com.au
- Subscribe to Katherine Times here
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @KatherineTimes
- Follow us on Instagram @katherinetimes
- Follow us on Google News
- Contact us at editor.kathtimes@austcommunitymedia.com.au
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?: Send letters to the editor or story tips to editor.kathtimes@austcommunitymedia.com.au