Two men were rescued after their seaplane overturned on Lake Coila. Photo: Westpac Life Rescue Helicopter.
Two men have been taken to hospital after their seaplane crashed in Coila Lake at Tuross Head.
Emergency services were called just after 1 pm today (Wednesday, 10 August), with four ambulance crews and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter sent to rescue those onboard.
Pilot Sam Wilson said the seaplane had overturned while practising landing on the water.
“We were able to retrieve the pilot and his passenger safely, as there were no boats on the water,” he said.
“We kept them warm with blankets onboard before handing them over to the waiting paramedics.”
Mr Wilson said at least one man presented as hypothermic.
“It doesn’t take long in that water [to become hypothermic] to get into trouble, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, particularly this time of year,” he said.
“They were lucky they could sit on the seaplane … but they were still waist-deep in the water.
“They were both saying that they were very, very cold.”
#RESCUE a lucky escape for a pilot and passenger with their Seaplane flipping on landing on #CoilaLake near #Tuross. The Lifesaver 23 crew #moruya responding to the alert and rescuing the two persons and taking them to be assessed by ambulance crews. #lifesaverhelo pic.twitter.com/EhD72oCh63
— Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters (@Lifesaverhelo) August 10, 2022
Marine Rescue crews from Tuross, Moruya and Batemans Bay were also called to help.
Paramedics treated the two men, both aged in their 50s, for minor cuts and scraps. They were taken to Moruya District Hospital in a stable condition.
Two men were rescued after their seaplane overturned on Lake Coila. Photo: Westpac Life Rescue Helicopter.
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