Surf Life Saving NSW has warned swimmers, surfers, rock fishermen and boat skippers to take extreme caution as dangerous ocean conditions are expected over the next few days on the NSW Far North Coast.
Large storm swells were expected to peak on Tuesday afternoon at around eight foot plus with conditions remaining dangerous for the rest of this week.
The combination of swell and wind will result in extremely hazardous conditions at all beaches, rock-shelves, coastal cliffs and bar-crossings. Two people were winched to safety on Tuesday morning just minutes before their yacht sank in treacherous conditions off the Tweed-Byron coast.
The Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) Rescue 500 Helicopter was tasked to a rescue around 35 nautical miles off the coast of Coolangatta around 3am on Tuesday where a yacht had been de-masted and was taking on water.
Around 6.30am Rescue crewmen winched two people, a man in his early seventies and a woman in her early thirties to safety.
They were treated in the helicopter by flight paramedics for hypothermia and fatigue.
EMQ Rescue 500 then returned to its Archerfield base where the patients were met by Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics who transported them in a stable condition to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The following safety advice is given:
nSwim only at patrolled beaches, between the red/yellow flags. ‘No Flags = No Swim’
nRock Fishermen should avoid fishing on the open coastline
nInexperienced surfers should avoid surfing
nBoaties should check their local forecast, seek advice from Marine Rescue and always wear a lifejacket
For patrolled locations and other multilingual safety information go to www.beachsafe.org.au. For in-water emergencies, call 000 Police immediately.
