Boaties out of their depth with alcohol
While the men were struggling in the water, their abandoned boat washed up on shore.
The man was one of a group of four who set out on a fishing trip in a four-metre runabout. Two of the group decided the conditions were too rough and were returned to shore. The man and his brother stayed out, drinking whisky and beer while they fished.
As they headed back to the boat ramp, they became lost and their boat ran out of fuel less than 100 metres from shore.
Although his brother, the skipper, urged him not to, the man entered the water to try to tow the boat ashore. The water was between 3 and 5 metres deep, which was deeper than he expected. He was wearing a lifejacket, but it did not fit him properly. He was a poor swimmer and quickly got into difficulty.
The skipper jumped in to try to rescue his brother, but he was also a weak swimmer. After struggling for about 15 minutes to keep his brother afloat, the skipper could not help anymore and, exhausted, his brother ended up face down in the water. During this time, their abandoned boat washed up on shore.
People on shore saw the men in the water, swam out, and brought them back to the beach. The rescuers provided first aid until emergency services arrived and took over. The skipper regained consciousness, but his brother could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Safety points
This avoidable tragedy shows the real dangers of operating or being in a vessel under the influence of alcohol. Safe boating and alcohol do not mix. Conditions on the water can change quickly and everyone on board needs to stay alert and aware of risks. Alcohol affects your ability to make sound decisions and to keep yourself and others safe.
Evidence collected during the investigation showed that the skipper and the man who drowned had consumed a large amount of alcohol. The skipper told Police he had drunk a bottle of whisky that day.
Alcohol causes disorientation and gives people a false sense of their situation, which can prompt them to attempt tasks beyond their abilities. The man’s decision to enter the water, despite being a poor swimmer, probably set off the events that followed. If he and his brother had stayed with the boat, they may have washed ashore on board without putting themselves at risk or been seen by people on shore and rescued.
Alcohol affects your body. It:
- reduces coordination and your ability to do simple tasks, such as putting on a lifejacket
- makes it harder to stay afloat or hold your breath
- reduces blood flow, contributing to muscle, heat, and fluid loss
- suppresses airway protection reflexes, making it easier to inhale water
- increases susceptibility to cold and reduces awareness of the onset of hypothermia.
Lifejackets and skipper responsibilities
Maritime Rules require the skipper in charge of a boat to make sure there are enough lifejackets of an appropriate type and size for each person on board.
In this case, it is believed there was only one lifejacket on the boat, and it did not fit the person who wore it.
If the man who drowned had been wearing a correctly sized lifejacket, he may have been able to keep his head above water and conserve energy. This would have reduced panic and increased his chances of surviving until he could be rescued or reach shore.
The skipper, who tried to keep him afloat without wearing a lifejacket, was fortunate not to lose his life as well.