It was reported to Marine Rescue that a woman’s finger was severed near the first knuckle when a rope became caught around her hand while she was setting up the tow line on Monday February 24. 

The woman was aboard a small fishing boat with a man when they saw a 4.3m boat adrift in the channel after an engine failure. 

The boat had been caught in the fast-running current and was approaching the harbour entrance. The anchor was slowing the boat’s drift, but the vessel was being dragged out to sea. 

The rescue was abandoned after the woman’s injury and the fishing boat met up with an ambulance in the Forster harbour for treatment. 

The drifting vessel was towed into the harbour by the Marine Rescue vessel the Amanda Lani crewed by Ray Mazurek, Wayne Booker and Keith Herdon.

Local Marine Rescue Unit Commander Dennis Travers said it was probably the shortest rescue the Amanda Lani has undertaken in its life in Forster Tuncurry. 

“We are appreciative of the help offered by community boaters,” he said. 

“The risks are significant when towing a vessel or even routine rope work on a boat. A sudden change in wind or unforeseen movement of either vessel can create immediate and severe risk. 

“Marine Rescue boat crews train constantly in rope handling and safety but are not immune to those same risks on every rescue operation.”