Miraculous Survival: Crewman Rescued After 18 Hours in Water Off Newcastle, Border Force Investigating

9 November 2024

A crew member who fell overboard from a bulk carrier ship off the coast of Newcastle has been found alive after nearly 24 hours in the water, in what authorities are calling a remarkable tale of endurance and survival.

The man, a Vietnamese national in his 20s, was last seen aboard the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier Double Delight around 11:30 pm on Thursday night. The vessel was approximately eight kilometres southeast of Newcastle at the time.

When the crewman failed to report for duty the following morning, a search of the ship was conducted before the alarm was raised. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was notified by the Newcastle Harbourmaster at 11:04 am on Friday, initiating a multi-agency search operation.

The extensive search involved Newcastle-based NSW Water Police, Marine Rescue NSW units, and Port Stephens Water Police vessels. Aerial support was provided by the Westpac Rescue helicopter from Williamtown and a Defence helicopter from Belmont near Newcastle.

Despite the significant search effort, it was a recreational fisherman who ultimately spotted the missing man. Returning from a day out on the water around 6:30 pm on Friday, fisherman Glen Valaire and his companion noticed something unusual in the water off Blacksmiths Beach near Swansea.

NBN News reported that Mr Valaire’s fishing partner alerted him, saying, “Glen, there’s something in the water.” Upon closer inspection, they saw a man with his hand raised, signalling for help. “It’s a miracle we spotted him,” Mr Valaire told NBN News. “If he hadn’t put his hand up, I don’t think we would have seen him.”

The crewman was found fatigued, suffering from hypothermia, and unable to speak. He was wearing a life jacket and carrying a bag of his possessions, which paramedics say was instrumental in his survival. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated him at the scene before transporting him to John Hunter Hospital, where he is reported to be in a stable condition.

Paramedic Erin Laughton, speaking to NBN News, remarked on the extraordinary nature of the rescue. “This is the first time I’ve seen someone who has been in the water that long and was in that good of a condition,” she said.

Garry Dodd, regional director of Mission to Seafarers and senior chaplain to the Port of Newcastle, commented on the crewman’s survival. “It truly is a miracle,” he said. “It’s about a 12-metre jump from the deck, so even that, smashing into the water is in and of itself quite dangerous. There’s a lot of water out there and a lot of space… it’s a challenge.”

The Double Delight has since docked at the Port of Newcastle and is scheduled to depart on Sunday evening. Reverend Canon Dodd indicated he would offer support to the ship’s crew, acknowledging the impact such an incident can have on those aboard. “The effect it has on the entire crew—that vessel will sail and one of the team members won’t be on it,” he said. “There will be some work done hopefully with the crew today as well to see how they’re travelling.”

Authorities, including the Australian Border Force, are now investigating the circumstances that led to the crewman going overboard. The man remains under medical supervision and the surveillance of the Australian Border Force.

Local residents were surprised at the man’s survival, saying that the challenging conditions of the open water. Witnesses reported seeing multiple emergency services responding to the incident on Friday evening.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said the favourable conditions aided the search efforts. “There was excellent visibility in the area,” he said.

Paramedics said that the flotation device likely played a crucial role in the man’s survival.