This was nearly a fishing tale of the one that got away.
A 73-year-old Gladstone man enjoying a days’ fishing on the Calliope River on Sunday fell overboard after his boat was rocked by the wake of another vessel just after 11am.
“The man suffered a hand injury from the blades of the motor when he tried to get back onboard, with the tinny now circling uncontrollably,” Queensland Police said today.
Three men, aged 28, 29 and 30, out kayaking saw the distressed fisherman struggling in the water and paddled over to him.
“They managed to hold onto the injured fisherman while calling out to a passing boat who came over and helped retrieve the man from the water, before ferrying him to shore,” police said.
A police officer had also commandeered a boat from the boat ramp and with the assistance of its skipper travelled out to the out of control tinny.
“The skipper nudged the circling tinny forcing it onto a forward trajectory with the skipper and police officer in hot pursuit.”
“With the skipper holding his boat steady the police officer waited until they were close enough before leaping into the fisherman’s runaway boat where he took control of the helm and steered the vessel to shore.”
The fisherman was transported to hospital for treatment of minor injuries – and a tale to tell!
