Safety calls on the water after foilboard rescue

MARINE Rescue NSW are calling on the Northern Rivers community to take extra care over the Easter long weekend after rescuing a man on a foilboard at Ballina this week.

Volunteers negotiated two-three metre swells on the Ballina Bar after the man was swept out to sea during the outgoing tide.

“Because of the rough conditions on the bar, vessel Ballina 21 was deployed for the mission,” Marine Rescue NSW inspector John Murray said.

“Within 10 minutes of getting on the water, the volunteer crew located the foilboarder approximately one kilometre east of the north wall.

“Members from Surf Life Saving NSW arrived on the scene simultaneously in an IRB and retrieved the man from the water before transferring him to the Marine Rescue jet boat.

“The IRB requested the Marine Rescue crew return the man to shore because conditions on the bar were too dangerous for their vessel.”

“The man was extremely lucky. He returned to Shaws Bay uninjured.”

More than 3500 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are ready to respond to boaters needing assistance around the state over the Easter long weekend.

“From the Tweed, right along the east coast, our volunteers are prepared to be deployed at any time of the day or night this Easter period,” Marine Rescue NSW commissioner Alex Barrell said.

Crews had their busiest Easter on record last year, completing 163 search and rescue missions over the four days and safely returning almost 450 people to shore.

“With increased traffic expected on our waterways, and some boaters venturing into unfamiliar locations, we are urging people to double-check their vessel and safety equipment before heading out on the water this Easter,” Mr Barrell said.

Boaters and paddlers should download the free Marine Rescue NSW app so they can log on when heading out into deeper water.