A BRISBANE resident is lucky to be alive after his boat was hit by rogue waves near Port Macquarie.
Kevin Collins and a friend were taking the 50-foot vessel from Sydney to New South Wales when disaster hit over the Port Macquarie bar.
There was no warning of the waves which took out the front and side windscreens of the boat and flooded its upper deck.
Mr Collins, who sustained knee and ankle injuries from the incident, said he feared for his life during the onslaught.
“It was a life-threatening experience – I didn’t think I was going to come out of it,” Mr Collins said.
“The mind doesn’t work very clearly when it’s happening, there’s no rewind button.”
Despite the catastrophic waters, the pair managed to turn the vessel around and get it back to the marina. Mr Collins’ computer, phone and camera were ruined, but he said without the quick thinking of his mate, things could have been a lot worse.
“His control of the boat saved the situation,” Mr Collins said.
“Any lesser captain might not have gotten the boat back to the marina.”
Mr Collins has praised everyone who helped the pair following the boating accident, including doctors, motel staff and the Port Macquarie Marina attendants. Those workers helped repair the boat.
“Three live-aboard members of the marina came immediately to our assistance, calling the ambulance, administering initial first aid and advised the marina manager of our situation,” Mr Collins said.
“The ambulance arrived promptly and attended to our wounds. They then transported us to the public hospital where we were admitted promptly and received immediate attention.
“People dropped what they were doing to come and help us.”
On the morning after the accident, Mr Collins’ wound was checked by the local chemist before he returned to the public hospital, where he received additional prompt attention.
“I would like to thank everyone who helped us through this difficult experience; the assistance was beyond expectations,” Mr Collins said.
