By Graham Davis

Fifteen Royal New Zealand Navy sailors were hurt and taken to hospital when their two-tonne lifeboat plunged 10 metres from HMNZS Endeavour into Sydney Harbour and overturned last week.

The incident, which occurred during a lifeboat launching drill, led to a dramatic rescue by the crews of two RAN RHIBs from HMAS Manoora and Sydney and a Defence Maritime Services patrol launch.

A petty officer from HMAS Manoora’s RHIB dived into the water to support a New Zealander with a suspected spinal injury.

Three days after the accident, four sailors remained in hospital, two in St Vincent’s and two in the Balmoral Naval Hospital.

All victims were expected to make a full recovery although it was likely two would be repatriated to New Zealand instead of staying with their ship when she headed to South East Asia with HMNZS Te Kaha.

Garden Island’s Anzac spirit shows

The 10,000 tonne fleet oiler with a ship’s company of 49, arrived in Sydney on August 13 for a port visit in readiness for when, on August 20, she was to have provided consort to Australia’s newest warship, HMAS Ballarat as she did work ups off the NSW coast.

On Monday, August 16 at about 10.50am, she tested the lowering of her portside lifeboat.

There were 22 New Zealanders inside when for reasons, now subject to a lengthy inquiry by the NZ Navy and Lloyd’s, the lifeboat fell ten metres into the waters between Garden Island’s “West Wall” and “East Wall.”

It overturned and floated upside down.

The occupants were thrown about suffering injuries ranging from suspected spinal damage to cuts and bruises.

The sailors scrambled out of the bright orange craft inflating their survival vests. Shipmates on Endeavour threw life rings into the water.

In the accident a total of 15 sailors were hurt.

Five, all of whom were fitted with cervical collars in case they had suffered spinal injuries, went by civilian ambulances to St Vincent’s Hospital, two kilometres away. Another 10 suffering less serious injuries, but including cuts, abrasions, shock and emersion went by RAN bus to the Balmoral Naval Hospital (BNH) at HMAS Penguin.

On HMAS Manoora PO Justin Haig heard two “cracks”, saw the lifeboat in the water and raised the alarm on his ship, then alongside the Cruiser Wharf.

Observant LS James Wilkinson on duty on the quarterdeck of HMAS Sydney, moored at the East Wall, raised the alarm to the Duty Officer SBLT Kelly Bolt, who in turn, obtained permission for Sydney to man her RHIB and go to the rescue.

PO Andrew Bryant, SMNBM Phil Dunne and SMNBM Jason Vines ran along the wharf and jumped into Sydney’s RHIB and sped to the scene.

There was a similar response from Manoora with PO Marty Rigg, PO Haig, LSSTD Matthew McDonald and AB Nicholas Contouris, racing to their RHIB.

A DMS Naval Patrol Sharkcat manned by Master Drago Jaroslav and Serco Sodhexo guard Christopher Lamont, then patrolling waters of Garden Island, also responded.

“There were a lot of people in the water,” LS McDonald, the coxswain of Manoora’s RHIB said.

“PO Rigg jumped into the water to support one of them. We brought four people into the RHIB.

“ PO Andrew Bryant said his team from HMAS Sydney lifted about eight victims from the harbour. RAN Chaplains Richard Thompson and Ian McKendrick attended the ship to offer support.

Commanding Officer of HMAS Kuttabul, CMDR Brian Eagles also responded.

LCDR Mark Longstaff told Navy News that two of his personnel remained in St Vincent’s Hospital, Suffering suspected spinal injuries, they were expected to spend a “few more days” in the hospital before being transferred to BNH.

Two other patients who had been taken originally to St Vincent’s had been transferred to BNH and were expected to be flown home to New Zealand rather than return to the ship.

All seven taken to the naval hospital immediately after the accident had been discharged and were back on board.

He said the two patients still in St Vincent’s were expected to be flown home to New Zealand rather than return to the ship.

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