Family drama on high seas

31.08.2010

DUSK in late winter is not a great time to be swept
out to sea but that was the situation confronting a
family at Bonville Creek at the weekend.
Emergency services scrambled after reports of
two children and an adult being swept to sea near
rocks at Sawtell Headland late on Saturday.
Coffs Harbour City Council lifeguards Sonny
Tisdell and Greg Hackfath were among the first on
the scene just on dusk at 5.27pm.
"They'd gone out in inflatable boats trying to ride
the waves and not realised how strong the current
is coming out of Bonville Creek and got into heaps
of trouble," Mr Hackfath said.
"They clambered up the rocks themselves. By
the time we got there, they were wandering down
the hill.
"It took a bit of skin off them, but they were
lucky."
The Sawtell Surf Life Saving Club rescue boat
arrived after a man, believed to be the father, retrieved
the children and their inflatable boat over
the rocks.
The Sawtell Fire Brigade were on the scene
ready to mount a rescue if needed over the headland
down to the rocks.
A man and a boy were treated at the scene by
paramedics for cuts and abrasions.
They declined transportation to hospital.