Two paddleboarders saved after being swept across Port Philip Bay
Two paddleboarders were rescued by police on Christmas Day after drifting nearly 17 kilometers across Port Philip Bay.
A 17-year-old boy and a 51-year-old woman from the same family set out on their boat from the Portarlington caravan park pier at around 15:00 on Thursday, but were driven away from the shore. Neither of them were wearing life jackets.
Two hours later, when the pair did not return, a family member contacted Triple Zero, prompting police, Life Saving Victoria and Queenscliff Coastguard to launch a search.
The police air wing spotted the paddle boarders swimming and waving for help at 6.20pm near Wyndham Harbor near Werribee (about 17 kilometers from where they started) and water police rescued them. The couple escaped unhurt.
Their unexpected trip coincided with Melbourne’s coldest Christmas since 2006, as the city’s temperature reached just 14.5 degrees.
Queenscliff Coastguard captain Peter, who declined to share his surname, said the paddleboarding trip had become dangerous due to windy conditions in the bay.
The paddleboarders were spotted by police while swimming near Wyndham Harbor. Credit: Joe Armao
“They rowed and all of a sudden the wind and tide caught them and a minute later they couldn’t get back to shore,” he said.
“The key to this is just to take a look at the conditions you’re going to be dealing with.”
