Abracadabra Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Second fisherman rescued after man's marathon swim Neil Hickey and Greg Stolz February 28, 2008 12:35pm A SECOND fisherman lost at sea after his trawler capsized off the coast of northern New South Wales has been found alive this morning. In a miraculous tale of survival, Yamba man John Jarratt was found just after 7am today by an Emergency Management Queensland rescue helicopter about five nautical miles off the coast of Lennox Heads at Seven Mile Beach. He had spent 30 hours floating in shark-infested waters, kept alive only by clinging to an esky. The vessel, Sea Rogue, is believed to have sunk within two minutes, when its netting became entangled on the reef. A spokeswoman said searchers found a line of debris in the area and followed it all the way until they located the man before winching him to safety. Queensland Rescue spokesman Andy Christie said he had spoken to the helicopter crew who found him. "The crew said that he was talking, he was conscious - physically appeared to be okay ... but they were quick to point out that he had spent a very cold night in the water," he told Sky News. Trawler skipper Charlie Picton was still missing. Mr Jarratt was said to be in a stable condition and recovering in Ballina Hospital where he was being hydrated. Relatives and friends, including his daughter and sisters, have gathered at Ballina Hospital. "He is talking to police and rescue crews at the moment, the spokeswoman said. "From his condition he seems to be stable." The spokeswoman said the sailor was helping authorities to rescue the third man lost at sea. Four rescue helicopters and three fixed wing aircraft are now circling the area in the search for the final missing man. The rescue this morning is the second amazing story of survival after a third fisherman swam for 12 hours yesterday to raise the alarm. Michael Williams, a 39-year-old Yamba man, emerged from the ocean on the brink of exhaustion about 3pm at New Brighton, a small beach about 20km north of Byron Bay, some 12 hours after the 60-foot boat sank. New Brighton resident John Gort found the fisherman covered in blood on the sand while he was out walking his dog about 3pm. "There was blood all over the sand and on his legs, he said. "He was exhausted but he was smiling and he was just glad to be alive. Visiting her son in Mullumbimby Hospital this morning, Fay Williams said Michael was "faring pretty well", but under sedation after his ordeal. She said he was upset that his friend Mr Picton still had not been found. Mrs Williams said her son was a survivor, having swum a long distance to shore just before Christmas after being injured in a kite surfing accident. "He is very strong, he has wonderful survival skills." Sea Rogue's Sydney-based owner Craig Boland had been comforting Mr Picton's parents in Yamba and then rushed to Mullumbimby Hospital to visit Mr Williams. Mr Boland said he did not care what happened to the boat. "I just want Charlie found," he said. He described Mr Picton's effort in swimming for 10 hours to raise the alarm after the trawler capsized as "amazing". "I couldn't do it - could any of you guys do it?" he said outside Mullumbimby Hospital. Mr Boland said Mr Williams would remain under sedation in hospital for several days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fist 666 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 i'm impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_casek Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 $20 says he wanted a beer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abracadabra Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 i have trouble staying awake for 12 hours, and look at this motherfucker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c-walk Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 that was stupid, there is no way i would swim that far, i mean thats so long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prawn laksa Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 what a fucking machine! i couldnt swim 20m in 12 minutes and this fellas done 20kms over 12 hours. give him the gold, his mate gets silver and mr picton will have to settle for the bronze.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yinz n'at Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 thats amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatso Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I would have gotten eaten by a shark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!RENOBOF Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 i wish i could swim:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferris Bueller Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 what a fucking machine! i couldnt swim 20m in 12 minutes and this fellas done 20kms over 12 hours. give him the gold, his mate gets silver and mr picton will have to settle for the bronze.... You couldn't swim 20m in 12 minutes? Are you a para/quadraplegic? Are you missing legs and/or arms? I know you're really exaggerating, but come on, try a bit harder to make it seem realistic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferris Bueller Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 And that's crazy swimming. Maybe he'll learn that the world really doesn't need to eat so much fish. But perhaps it's the effects of Lent. Fish Fridays. Or maybe it's the consumption of fish and chips. These guys get crazy props, they have a true will to live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shitting Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 i can't even swim ps, my sisters ex bf works off a prawn trawler out of byron bay, hope he isn't one of the missing, can't recall his surname.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shitting Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 The guy who clang to the esky probably kept up the will to live by drinking VBs from the esky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toprock Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 He had spent 30 hours floating in shark-infested waters, kept alive only by clinging to an esky i am often to be found clinging to my esky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christo-f Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 The guy who clang to the esky probably kept up the will to live by drinking VBs from the esky Are you kidding?! If the esky only had VB in it, I'd prefer to get eaten by a shark! Blehhhh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shitting Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 abc knows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De sign Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 heh drinking one now. hard earnt thirst. = Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soupBDC Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Good news... seeing as they're shitty sailors. And Im pretty sure the Bay kills it in the Olympics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayabusa Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 sometimes i wish i could read everything as its written and not just scroll down to see pics :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christo-f Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Good news... seeing as they're shitty sailors. And Im pretty sure the Bay kills it in the Olympics. No way dude, Chechnya's all over it......:rolleyes: Ps, stop following me in threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prawn laksa Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 You couldn't swim 20m in 12 minutes? Are you a para/quadraplegic? Are you missing legs and/or arms? I know you're really exaggerating, but come on, try a bit harder to make it seem realistic... Ok next time i promise to pm you so i can run my keyboard humour past you before i post it on this oh so serious comedy forum...:dozey: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prawn laksa Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 anyway, apparently the blokethat swam back to shore is a blackbelt in karate, hense his fitness level. he must not spend much time infront of his keyboard trying to call people out on ch0... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KILZ FILLZ Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2008/02/27/1811_local-news.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KM4RT Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 ....he must not spend much time infront of his keyboard trying to call people out on ch0... zing. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tango 24 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 punching sharks in the nose chugging vbs clinging to the esky looks like we found the next mick dundee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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