ANGEL Rings are continuing to save lives along the NSW coastline.
The Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW reports that the emergency buoyancy device has recently saved the lives of fishermen along the coast. In an incident on the south coast, two men were fishing on rocks at Merry Beach just south of Ulladulla when one of the men hooked a large fish. Police have been told that when the 42-year-old man walked to the edge of the rock platform in an attempt to reel the fish in, he fell into the water.
The man’s fishing companion threw him an Angel Ring and contacted authorities. Police from Shoalhaven Local Area Command attended and the man was winched to safety by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. The man suffered only minor cuts and did not seek medical treatment.
In another incident at Red Rock north of Coffs Harbour, two men in a canoe were swept out to sea from a coastal river. Their canoe capsized and one of the men saw an Angel Ring on the headland, swam in, grabbed it and swam back out to rescue his mate and they both floated to shore. The rescued man had a lung full of water and was taken to hospital. This marked the 51st confirmed rescue courtesy of an Angel Ring.
Local resident Marilyn Allan was the driving force behind the installation of three angel rings at Red Rock.
“The angel rings were installed in June 2006, about six months after the tragic drowning of a 24-year-old American exchange student and since then they have saved several lives,” Mrs Allan said.
For more on rock fishing safety go to: www.safefishing.com.au
