Fisherman rescued; search continues for third man
One of two fishermen lost at sea after a fishing trawler sank off Brunswick Heads has been found alive, floating about 15km north-east of Ballina at 8.15am today after spending 30 hours in the water.
The man, John Jarrett, 41, of Evans Head, was found clinging to an Esky which he used as flotation device, off the Lennox Head coast. A rescue helicopter airlifted Mr Jarrett to Ballina Hospital where he was in a stable condition, despite his 30-hour ordeal.
The search for the other man, Charlie Picton, is continuing.
The trawler, believed to be based in Yamba, sank early yesterday.
About 4pm yesterday a passer-by located a 39-year-old man, Michael Williams, on New Brighton Beach in a distressed state. He said he had been swimming for about 12 hours after his fishing trawler had sunk.
Mr Williams indicated he left his two male companions clinging to a flotation device about seven nautical miles out to sea.
Police attended the scene and commenced a search of the area. Marine Area Command Launch “Fearless”, Westpac rescue helicopter, Volunteer Marine Agencies and Australian Search and Rescue were involved in the search.
During the night Marine Area Command Launch “Fearless” and a fixed winged dornier air craft from the Australian Search and Rescue continued the search using forward looking infra-red technology.
Mr Williams, 39, is currently in Mullumbimby Hospital where he is being treated for injuries and is in a stable condition.
Police say the circumstances surrounding how the fishing trawler came to sink are unknown at this stage and investigations are continuing. However, it is believed the boat’s nets snagged on a reef.
