A man and his teenage son suffering from hypothermia have been rescued from Pipe Clay Lagoon in southern Tasmania after becoming disoriented while night fishing.
The Risdon Vale pair were pulled from the water in the early hours of Friday morning after calling emergency services when they found themselves “several hundred metres” from shore in deep water.
The 43-year-old man and his 14-year-old son had been flounder fishing around 11pm on Thursday when they became lost in the lagoon.
Tasmania Police Senior Constable Callum Herbert said officers located the pair around 12:45am with assistance from a rescue helicopter.
“They were pulled from the water by members from marine and rescue services in a specialised shallow draught vessel,” he said.
“They were then taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia.“
Herbert said the incident serves as an important safety reminder for all water activities.
“The rescue of these two individuals is a timely reminder for any members of the public who undertake activities on the water,” he said.
“If the response had been delayed, the outcome in this case could have been disastrous.”
Police have urged the public to take proper precautions even when in familiar waters.
“We urge you to be prepared, even in waters that seem calm or you are familiar with, always plan ahead by checking the weather forecast, ensuring you have appropriate safety equipment, including a working charged mobile phone,” Herbert said.
