A witness to a tragic boating incident in New South Wales that resulted in three fatalities has shared a deeply moving account of the event.
On Monday evening around 6:00 PM, a group of six Marine Rescue volunteers found themselves in peril when their vessel capsized while attempting to assist a distressed yacht near Ballina. Unfortunately, two of the volunteers, 78-year-old Bill Ewen and 62-year-old Frank Petsch, were unable to reach safety and lost their lives in the tumultuous waters close to the Richmond River’s entrance. The captain of the yacht also died, but their identity has yet to be confirmed.
Darragh Hunt was fishing on the southern breakwall when the incident occurred. He recounted, “I heard someone shout ‘help,’ and initially, I thought it was a call from the person on the sailboat.” He quickly dropped his fishing gear and raced toward the two volunteers who had reached the rocks, calling for assistance: “He’s here, he’s here.” As he hurried up the rocks, he noticed another light and heard another cry for help.
According to Mr. Hunt, adrenaline surged through him as he approached the two Marine Rescue personnel who had managed to get onto the breakwall. “Seeing them in their emergency response uniforms made it clear that the rescue boat had capsized,” he explained. He then observed multiple lights scattered along the beach, leading him to realize that there were likely more individuals needing help.
He ran approximately 50 yards down the beach, spotting debris from the rescue boat, including flashing lights and life vests, but no people in sight. As he turned back toward the breakwall, he noticed a man emerging from the water. “I rushed over to him, put my arm around him, and assisted him,” Mr. Hunt said. “He was having difficulty walking and felt very cold.”
After helping the man ascend the sand dunes, Mr. Hunt returned to assist the two volunteers on the breakwall. “I helped them maneuver off the rocks, which were steep and slippery. The conditions were dire,” he noted. “They were covered in blood, indicating how challenging the situation had been for them. I could still hear cries for help, and I kept shouting, ‘Stay calm, emergency services are on their way, stay calm.’” He made another call to the police to inform them of the capsized rescue boat, emphasizing the severity of the situation. “It was a dreadful scenario, but I commend the emergency services for their outstanding response,” he added.
Mr. Hunt expressed that he felt an “inexplicable surge of emotions” throughout the ordeal. “When people are crying out for help and you feel powerless to assist, it’s overwhelming,” he remarked. He also extended his willingness to speak with the families of the deceased, offering to share his firsthand experience to provide them with insights into what transpired during the tragic event.
