It has been relatively quiet this week for the team of the Whitsunday Volunteer Marine Rescue. But the WVMR team are always ready, waiting for that extra loud, special ringtone that signifies an emergency call, and someone needing their assistance. Shane, President of the WVMR, recounts an incident where even though they weren't initially activated, they were ready to respond.
Shane and his wife were enjoying the view on their patio one late afternoon when a strange incident caused Shane to reach for his binoculars. Out in the Airlie anchorage, a puff of smoke erupted from the stern of a yacht and as he zoomed in, Shane could see someone panicking as orange flames began to spread. As his wife called triple zero, Shane recalled a calming pause before all broke lose.
“While I watched in horror, in the gloom of dusk, an explosion and fire ball erupted.”
With the fire on the horizon, the world seemed to spring into action. The water police’s semirigid vessel suddenly appeared with sirens and lights blazing, powering through the water at top speed through the anchorage. Then the fire engines arrived at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, but they couldn't help being stuck on shore.
Shane grabbed his phone and called WVMR’s controller to ask if they had been activated. “No,” came the reply, but Shane was ready to act - “Ok, get a crew together urgently because we will be, there’s a boat on fire and people in the water.” He was out of the door and arrived at the VMR1 just as another fire engine arrived with portable pumps.
Skipper Ken took the WVMR team and the Firefighters out at emergency speed towards the anchored yacht. When we arrived, it was ablaze stem to stern. Luckily the Police had picked up the people from the water and all witnessed as the fibreglass blazed, they watched the mast collapse into the flames spreading rigging everywhere.
With Ken shouting guidance, Shane backed up the VMR1 as close as they dared, remaining upwind of the burning vessel. The wire rigging in the water was a major hazard because if it were to foul their props, they would be immobilised dangerously close to the fire.
The burning hull of the yacht was sinking and as the fire reached the waterline, it quietly slipped under. There was charred flotsam, but not too much pollution and Shane recounted it was an event of great exhilaration.
If you would like some excitement in your life, while doing a great community service, visit vmrwhitsundays.com.au/volunteer/
Contributed with thanks by Shane Newell, VMRW President.
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