A fisherman, whose boat was found empty, has turned up safe and well hours after going missing on the state’s far north Coast yesterday.
About 11.30am a 25-year-old man left the Kennedy Drive boat ramp at Tweed Heads to go fishing at a location known as Nine Mile, about 4.5 nautical miles off Tweed Heads.
About 5.15pm Tweed Heads Police were notified by Queensland Police that the man’s boat had been located with the engine running and nobody aboard off Kirra Beach, on the southern end of the Gold Coast.
Queensland Police then began an air and land search before it was postponed at 9pm, to resume at first light.
About 10.30pm NSW and Queensland police received information the 25-year-old man had made landfall at Fingal Head, just south of Tweed Heads.
The man was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for treatment. He is in a stable condition.
NSW Police attended the hospital and spoke with the man. It is believed he was knocked overboard by a wave near Nine Mile and his boat, still under power, drove away from him.
The man then began swimming toward shore and arrived at Fingal Head with minor cuts and abrasions and mild hypothermia.
He is expected to make a full recovery.
WOW, what an unlucky man to get knocked overboard by a wave, but what a lucky man to survive the swim and get to shore.
It would be interesting to find out what survival skills we could use if caught in a similar situation (not that I ever want to be in that position).
I understand he knew the local currents and took advantage of that, so it certainly pays to know the local area.
Hope there is a follow up story with more information in it.
Cheers
Annie from Gold Coast Australia