In a matter of minutes, two boat
s capsized in Port Macquarie waters on Saturday, with four people taken to hospital.
A boat flipped while trying to cross the bar around 10.30am on Saturday with three passengers aboard.
The boat, which was heading out of the rivermouth, tried to turn after a wave reared up infront of the vessel.
The boat hit the wave side on and capsized throwing the three passengers into the water.
A passing whale watching vessel rescued the passengers.
A Marine Rescue Port Macquarie crew was called out at 10.40am in time to see the passengers safe aboard the whale watching vessel.
Marine Rescue Port Macquarie search co-ordinator Geoff Shelton said no one was injured in the incident.
He said the passengers were taken back to shore safely and the boat was returned back to the breakwall.
Only minutes later Mr Shelton said Marine Rescue received an urgent callout to a capsized boat that had been flipped after the motor was snagged on the Settlement Point ferry cable.
“There were five persons aboard – a husband and wife and their 10-year-old son and the mother and father-in-law,” he said.
“They ran out of petrol and the tide pushed them toward the ferry.
“The motor got hooked on the ferry cable as it came out of the water as the ferry moved across – and capsized them.
“The ferry could not stop in time and ran over them.”
Mr Sheldon said four of the five passengers were taken to hospital.
Three were release by Sunday afternoon and the fourth person, an elderly man, was to be released on Monday.
The family members had largely suffered from saltwater inhalation, Mr Shelton said.
“The boat was completely submerged with only the bow showing,” he said.
“Another vessel managed to secure it to keep it above water.
“We used our two boat technique to salvage the vessel and returned it to shore.
“It was picked up on Sunday.”
Despite the back-to-back incidents, Mr Shelton said that considering the large number of boats on the water (300-plus), Marine Rescue had had little to worry about over the festive break.
He advised sea goers to ensure all safety equipment was up to date and people remain courteous and safe on the water.
