Rogue wave rescue prompts call for second life ring at rock pool
Two swimmers swept about 100 metres offshore by a rogue wave. Family says existing life ring was too far away.
A mother and two young girls were hit by a rogue wave at Boat Harbour rock pool on the Tomaree Peninsula. Two of the three were carried about 100 metres out to sea.
One scrambled back to the rocks. The other two were retrieved after rapid response from NSW Police, ambulance, a jet-ski crew and a rescue helicopter.
The orange life preserver mounted at the nearby whale-watching lookout was deployed. But the family says its position, well back from the pool and out of clear sight, cost crucial time in the rescue.
A family member spent about 25 minutes in the water keeping the swimmers afloat. The family is pushing for a second life ring.
They want it installed closer to the pool or in clear sight. Rock pools on this coastline are popular but dangerous.
They sit directly beside open ocean where unpredictable swells can strike without warning.
- about 100 metres
- Distance swept offshore
- about 25 minutes
- Time family member in water
- roughly 0.8 metres on 18-second period
- Swell estimate
- Boat Harbour rock pool, Tomaree Peninsula
- Location
Why it mattersA faster response to a water emergency could mean the difference between rescue and tragedy, and the family's push highlights a gap in safety infrastructure at a popular swimming spot.
AustraliaVisitors to Boat Harbour rock pool on NSW's central coast will benefit from improved lifesaving equipment if a second life ring is installed, cutting response time in emergencies.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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