Around 1.30pm on the last Sunday in May, the weather was fine, the sun shining and hardly a breath of wind, as two buddies decided to do a spot of fishing off Two Rocks.
Around 4.30pm the weather started to turn rough with a few flashes of lightning, then out of the blue Matt Retallack and Andrew Phillips’ boat was struck by a bolt of lightening.
With the lightning hitting a fishing rod resting in the boat’s rocket launcher, it zapped through the entire boat. The thunderous noise was deafening as the boat’s electrical system exploded, frying all the instrument gauges. A shattered Navman’s glass panel fulminating into Mr Retallack’s chest leaving a shrapnel-like wound.
The boat was totally disabled with no power, no steering and stranded about 37 kilometres off Two Rocks.
After recovering from the initial shock of the lightning strike, the injured boaties set off their EPIRB.
The signal was picked up by the Rescue Co-Ordination Centre in Canberra.
West Australian water police were then alerted and Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue was called out to rescue the stranded, injured boaties.
In 3.5 metre seas with a 35 knot wind, the Two Rocks TR13 boat located, secured and towed the disabled boat back to Two Rocks marina.
It took nearly five hours to safely tow the immobilised boat with its shell shocked passengers.
On reaching the safety of the marina, it was recommended that the two fishermen should go to hospital for checkups.
They both said they were okay and just wanted to get home to their concerned families. This is when their next problem arose.
As Mr Retallack went to unlock his car to retrieve their boat from the boat ramp, he found the immobiliser had been fried by the lightning too.
The two lightning affected guys were taken into the sea rescue building to recover, warm up and try to contact their families at 3.30am to bring another set of car keys.
After waking the family there was an hour and a half wait for them to drive from Parkwood to Two Rocks.
The two tired, injured boaties enjoyed the hospitality of the Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue.
It was suggested again that both boaties should seek medical attention. Both guys said they we’re okay.
Around 5.30am, sea rescue personnel had to call an ambulance and Andrew Phillips was taken to Joondalup hospital suffering hypothermia and exhaustion.
Matt Retallack drove home and was later admitted to Fremantle hospital also with hypothermia, exhaustion and chest injuries.
As a Sun City News reporter observing this rescue, the professionalism of the volunteers at the Two Rocks Sea Rescue Group was outstanding.
Anne Barton was stationed in the radio room at Two Rocks for over 12 hours, relaying messages, recording all conversations and providing updated reports to both the water police and the crew on TR13.
TR13’s skipper for this rescue, John Bird, along with crewmen, Wayne Wyatt and Paul Jourdan, endured the arduous task of locating the stranded boat, safely securing it and then the slow tiresome tow back to safety.
The Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue Group definitely saved two lives with this rescue and their performance was exemplary and should not go unnoticed.
Working voluntarily for over 12 hours throughout the night, in wild and windy conditions the professionalism, dedication and bravery of the TR13 crew must be admired.
If you would like to become a member of the Two Rocks Volunteer Sea Rescue Group, phone 9561 5777 for details.
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