ILL SAILOR WINCHED FROM STRICKEN YACHT AT HOOK ISLAND
October 19, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ILL SAILOR WINCHED FROM STRICKEN YACHT AT HOOK ISLAND
A sailor had to be evacuated from his yacht and winched by RACQ CQ Rescue late yesterday in a marathon rescue after his vessel smashed into rocks on Hook Island.
The Mackay-based rescue helicopter was tasked about 12.30pm after an EPIRB was activated near Hook Island, about 118km north of Mackay, and passing boaties rang 000 to report a yacht aground on rocks and an unwell sailor on board.
RACQ CQ Rescue flew direct to the scene to find a 15-metre sailing vessel with a 50 foot centre mast listing on a 45-degree angle on the south-western side of the island about 1pm.
An RACQ CQ Rescue Critical Care Paramedic and rescue crewman were winched down with a 406 stretcher onto rocks about 30 metres from the stricken vessel with winds gusting between 30 and 40 knots.
RACQ CQ Rescue rescue crewman Ben McCauley said the boat was structurally sound but the sailor on board, believed to be from New South Wales and in his mid 70s, was very confused after blacking out and was suffering neck and back pain as a result of the collision.
It took a small team of rescuers, including the two rescue helicopter crewmen, ambulance officers and a police officer from Airlie Beach, more than 1.5 hours to relocate the sailor, who was now secured into the stretcher, from the cabin below deck and off the vessel and another 20 minutes to carry him in the stretcher to a suitable winch position on rocks nearby. During this time the helicopter landed at Hamilton Island and was refueled before returning to the scene.
The paramedic and patient were winched up into the helicopter, followed by the rescue crewman and he was flown to Mackay Base Hospital for treatment and further investigation about 5pm.
Mr McCauley described the winch and transfer of the sailor to hospital as a “complex operation which took more than 4.5 hours to complete”.
[ENDS]
A lone sailor in his 70s was rescued and winched by RACQ CQ Rescue yesterday in a complex operation took more than 4.5 hours after his yacht smashed into rocks on Hook Island.
Please credit any released photos and video footage to RACQ CQ Rescue.
Please note: Full title of rescue service is RACQ CQ Rescue.
For further information please contact:
Naomi Noy
RACQ CQ Rescue
Ph: 0417 578 182