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| GRATEFUL:
The rescued are taken back to their village by Mermaid’s
sailors. |
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HMAS Mermaid (LCDR Mike Pounder) lived up to
her motto of “No Task Is Too Arduous” when she defied rough
weather to rescue seven people from a sinking fishing boat in the Torres
Strait on March 5.
The XO of HMAS Mermaid, LEUT Sarah Turner, said the RAN survey vessel
rescued the people from their sinking boat in the “nick of time.
“The type 2 fishing boat, which was little more than a canoe with
a shredded tarpaulin as a sail, was swamped by a large wave and sank just
as the last person was hauled on-board.
“If we had been a few minutes later then the fishermen would have
drowned.”
LEUT Turner added that the rescue was a minor miracle, in that one of
Mermaid’s eagle-eyed crew saw a faint light from a torch in pitch
black darkness.
“ABHSO Theresa Whyte should be praised because if she had not spotted
the light, they would certainly have perished”.
Mermaid’s crew tried desperately to keep the boat in sight despite
sea state 3 and 34 knot winds.
LEUT Turner said that visibility was down to 600 metres and “when
we got alongside we saw seven people huddled on the sinking fishing boat”.
In rough conditions Mermaid was expertly manoeuvred to offer a lee, heaving
lines were thrown to the boat and it was pulled alongside.
The rescued, six men and one woman, jumped from their sinking boat onto
Mermaid’s starboard quarter.
When climbing onto Mermaid, a large wave knocked the old woman back onto
the sinking fishing boat.
“Many hearts were in mouths, particularly CPOHSM David Thomas who
was helping them onboard,” said LEUT Turner.
“As soon as the old woman was brought onto our quarterdeck the boat
sank and had to be cut free,” LEUT Turner said.
The ship’s medical emergency team, PONPC Chapman and ABCK Natalie
Krings, were on hand to treat her for hypothermia as well as bruised ribs
from the fall.
ABCK Krings also provided the Papuans with medical treatment for numerous
cuts and dehydration.
Afterward, the survivors were treated to a much needed meal.
“We provided them with bread rolls, fruitcake, pumpkin soup, rice,
turkey, biscuits, cordial, chocolate buttons and jam tarts all of which
were demolished without a crumb remaining,” LEUT Turner said.
The PNG nationals were greatly relieved to be alive but somewhat saddened
to have lost their boat and all their worldly possessions.
One of the young men started to cry but his tears quickly turned to cheers
when Mermaid’s generous-hearted crew donated clothes and fishing
gear.
LEUT Turner said this was an extremely close call for the villagers, but
“I was particularly touched by the amount of clothes and personal
fishing gear the crew donated to help these people who had lost everything
but their lives”.
On advice from Fleet HQ, the seven PNG nationals were returned to their
village at Daru, PNG, a mere two hours away.
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