VICTORIA, Australia (8 Feb 2004) -- A VETERAN scuba diver missing for three hours was miraculously rescued after drifting up to 15km off Victoria's coast yesterday. Paramedics and surf lifesavers said the man, 51, was lucky to be alive. He was plucked to safety by volunteer lifesavers while being dragged along by the tide. The police airwing and water police launched an extensive search amid fears the man had drowned when he failed to surface from a 40-minute dive off Flinders. A fellow diver raised the alarm at 11.30am. Sometime later, the diver resurfaced near Point Leo when he was unable to find the boat. He was discovered by lifesavers 7km outside the search area. Point Leo Surf Lifesaving Club president Tom Mollenkopf said a lifesaver manning the observation tower noticed a buoyancy device being used offshore and sent a patrol boat out to investigate. "Fortunately, it was not a raging current close to shore. It could have been much more serious," he said. | | "It was fortunate the tide was not carrying him out otherwise he would have been in Tasmania by now." Mr Mollenkopf said volunteer lifesavers administered basic first-aid before paramedics arrived. Metropolitan Ambulance Service paramedic Angus Taylor praised the efforts of volunteer lifesavers. Paramedics treated the man for mild hypothermia and took him to Frankston Hospital. "He was a fairly lucky chap given the circumstances, although he seemed to be remarkably composed in spite of the experience," Mr Taylor said. SOURCE - Herald Sun |
