skuthorp
09-17-2006, 05:32 PM
Cop hailed for boat accident rescue
A policeman who rescued screaming passengers from a sinking cruiser after a fatal crash involving two boats in Sydney's south has been hailed a hero for saving their lives.
A 50-year-old man driving a speedboat died instantly on Saturday night when the boat and a half cabin cruiser collided head on near Kangaroo Point on the Georges River about 6.30pm (AEST).
His 44-year-old female companion was critically injured, while seven men on the cruiser were also injured.
Police said while speed and poor light were believed to have contributed to the fatal crash, alcohol had not been ruled out.
Rushing to the scene, 28-year-old Senior Constable Daniel Moore from Hurstville Highway patrol helped rescue the cruiser's passengers, including the seriously injured driver, identified only as Mohammad.
Const Moore also tried to save the life of the speed boat driver but the man had already died.
The officer Sunday told of how he dived into the river, fully clothed and wearing his 10kg gun belt, to rescue the cruiser's passengers and seriously injured driver.
"When we first got there they were screaming, I remember hearing Mohammed screaming, that's how I knew he was in a lot of pain," Sen Const Moore said.
While Water Police were towing the speedboat, Sen Const Moore helped the cruiser's passengers.
"There were five persons on the boat, two of them couldn't move under their own power, they were too badly injured," he said.
"If they didn't get out of the water, they were going to drown."
After dragging Mohammed out of the water to a nearby pier, Sen Const Moore said he looked for the speedboat driver.
"I couldn't see anything, it was too dark, too murky, I searched around, felt something, it felt like a person," he said.
"I got him out of the water, was getting ready to do CPR, that's when I noticed he had some fatal injuries and he was, unfortunately, beyond assistance."
Sen Const Moore said he wasn't concerned about his own welfare.
"You don't have time to think, you just do it," he said.
His efforts earned him accolades from his superiors.
"Sen Const Moore's actions are brave and heroic in the highest standard," Hurstville police commander Superintendent Adam Purcell said.
"He showed little regard for his own safety and immediately acted on instinct with the interests of the greater community at heart."
The woman who had been travelling in the speedboat remains in a critical but stable condition in St George Hospital, while the driver of the cruiser is recovering in Westmead Hospital with serious injuries.
The six men who had been passengers on the cruiser remain in Sutherland Hospital with minor injuries.
Investigation will look at what part speed, poor light and alcohol had played in the crash.
"We know that they were both underway, so the darkness and speed contributed and they came together and that's what happened," Senior Sergeant Peter Brennan said.
© 2006 AAP
Word is that one boat was moving at speed, the other had no nav lights on. I think another died too.
A policeman who rescued screaming passengers from a sinking cruiser after a fatal crash involving two boats in Sydney's south has been hailed a hero for saving their lives.
A 50-year-old man driving a speedboat died instantly on Saturday night when the boat and a half cabin cruiser collided head on near Kangaroo Point on the Georges River about 6.30pm (AEST).
His 44-year-old female companion was critically injured, while seven men on the cruiser were also injured.
Police said while speed and poor light were believed to have contributed to the fatal crash, alcohol had not been ruled out.
Rushing to the scene, 28-year-old Senior Constable Daniel Moore from Hurstville Highway patrol helped rescue the cruiser's passengers, including the seriously injured driver, identified only as Mohammad.
Const Moore also tried to save the life of the speed boat driver but the man had already died.
The officer Sunday told of how he dived into the river, fully clothed and wearing his 10kg gun belt, to rescue the cruiser's passengers and seriously injured driver.
"When we first got there they were screaming, I remember hearing Mohammed screaming, that's how I knew he was in a lot of pain," Sen Const Moore said.
While Water Police were towing the speedboat, Sen Const Moore helped the cruiser's passengers.
"There were five persons on the boat, two of them couldn't move under their own power, they were too badly injured," he said.
"If they didn't get out of the water, they were going to drown."
After dragging Mohammed out of the water to a nearby pier, Sen Const Moore said he looked for the speedboat driver.
"I couldn't see anything, it was too dark, too murky, I searched around, felt something, it felt like a person," he said.
"I got him out of the water, was getting ready to do CPR, that's when I noticed he had some fatal injuries and he was, unfortunately, beyond assistance."
Sen Const Moore said he wasn't concerned about his own welfare.
"You don't have time to think, you just do it," he said.
His efforts earned him accolades from his superiors.
"Sen Const Moore's actions are brave and heroic in the highest standard," Hurstville police commander Superintendent Adam Purcell said.
"He showed little regard for his own safety and immediately acted on instinct with the interests of the greater community at heart."
The woman who had been travelling in the speedboat remains in a critical but stable condition in St George Hospital, while the driver of the cruiser is recovering in Westmead Hospital with serious injuries.
The six men who had been passengers on the cruiser remain in Sutherland Hospital with minor injuries.
Investigation will look at what part speed, poor light and alcohol had played in the crash.
"We know that they were both underway, so the darkness and speed contributed and they came together and that's what happened," Senior Sergeant Peter Brennan said.
© 2006 AAP
Word is that one boat was moving at speed, the other had no nav lights on. I think another died too.