TWO teenage paddle boarders who got swept out to sea on Tuesday were rescued at Mount Eliza by Frankston SES volunteers, Ambulance Victoria, the Police Airwing and marine rescue volunteers.
The two girls had been on stand-up paddle boards when strong offshore winds prevented them from paddling back to shore and took them three kilometres out to sea.
One of the teenagers used her Apple Watch about 9pm to call for help, and the Police Airwing was able to locate the stricken pair and drop a flare to guide rescue vessels which were conducting a training session nearby.
A Volunteer Marine Rescue spokesperson said it was a great result involving multiple emergency agencies, but also highlighted the need to understand weather conditions before entering the water.
He said if the alarm had not have been raised by the girl’s use of a watch or by people on the beach, it “could have been a very different outcome for the two and their families”.
“Both VMR skippers and all crew were acutely aware that the light was fading and that getting to the area was critical,” he said.
Last weekend emergency services were notified when a 12-year-old boy at Frankston beach drifted out to sea but was able to make it back to shore.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 18 January 2022
