Qld: Maritime rescue heroes awarded bravery medals

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2009
Qld: Maritime rescue heroes awarded bravery medals

By Victoria Bruce

BRISBANE, April 15 AAP - The daring night-time rescue of 37 people from a stricken
yacht that ran aground in wild seas off the north Queensland coast has earned the rescuers
bravery medals.

Rescue crews braved three-metre swells and 60-80km/h winds to winch backpackers and
the crew to safety when the twin-masted ketch Romance washed onto rocks off Cape Cove,
at Hook Island in the Whitsundays, on February 12 last year.

It was the largest helicopter rescue operation from a vessel in Australian history.

On Wednesday, Whitsundays water police officer Brett Norris was awarded a silver bravery
medal for what he says was the most rewarding, and biggest, rescue effort in his 22-year
police career.

After receiving the distress call at 2.30am, water police and rescue crews worked through
the night to save 32 passengers, most of whom were foreign backpackers, and five crew
members.

But high swells and strong winds meant the rescue crews in a police boat and two helicopters
were unable to get close enough to the stricken charter vessel.

"After realising we weren't getting anywhere with our vessel, I donned wetsuit and
fins and swam approximately 75 metres out to the island," Senior Constable Norris said.

"At the time, we didn't know if anyone was injured or what their situation was.

"I was only concerned with reaching the crew and, fortunately, no one was injured or killed."

RACQ-CQ Rescue general manager Phil Dowler and Snr Const Norris worked to secure the
vessel, which was wedged on hazardous rocks at a 45 degree angle, and winch the passengers
to the safety of the helicopters.

"I've been with the Queensland Police Service for 22 years, and this was by far the
largest rescue operation I have been involved in," Snr Const Norris said.

Snr Const Norris received the Royal Humane Society of Australia's silver medal while
Mr Dowler and CQ Rescue crew members Heath Scanlon, John Hinder and Daniel Hoare were
presented with bronze medals by Queensland governor Penelope Wensley at a ceremony in
Brisbane on Wednesday.

They were among 31 Queensland residents acknowledged for their bravery at the awards
ceremony at Government House.

AAP student/pjo/mn/cdh

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