Cruise ends in rescue

8th July 2009

www.noosacat.com.au

A FIFTY-TWO foot-long Power Cat was rescued from seas one mile north of Double Island Point on Monday night after its skipper passed way onboard.

The 59-year-old man from Gladstone is believed to have died from a heart attack, just two weeks after setting off on a cruise with his wife.

Hervey Bay Water Police received a mayday from the catamaran around 2pm on Monday.

An AGL Rescue Helicopter was dispatched from Bundaberg and the Tin Can Bay Coast Guard was placed on standby to assist from the water.

Rescue helicopter pilot Richard Snell said when they arrived, the man's wife was alone with him trying to give him CPR.

He said the man had suffered from heart problems.

A paramedic and a crewman was winched down to the vessel with a defibrillator and they worked on the man for 15 minutes before declaring him deceased.

The Coast Guard's commander Jim George said they were called out at 4pm to bring the massive vessel back.

"It was very sad and extremely difficult because we were coming back with the lady sitting next to her husband lying on the floor," Mr George said.

"Emotions were running pretty high when the family met us back on shore."

The catamaran was located one mile north of Double Island Point and arrived at the Tin Can Bay Coast Guard jetty at 7.15pm.

Mr George said the decased man was 'ironically' a member of the Gladstone Coast Guard.

The man's name will not be released until all relatives are notified.