Miraculous Rescue of Missing Seafarer by Fisherman Near Newcastle

A recreational fisherman made a miraculous discovery when he found a missing seafarer from the bulk carrier Double Delight off the coast of Blacksmith Beach, south of Newcastle. The man had gone overboard at 11:30pm on Thursday and was spotted floating in the water at 6:30pm on Friday. Two Marine Rescue NSW vessels were deployed to search for the man, who was eventually found by the fisherman, coincidentally a doctor, while returning from a fishing trip. The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment and was being monitored by medical staff under the Australian Border Force’s supervision. His current condition is unknown.

The regional director of Mission to Seafarers and senior chaplain to the Port of Newcastle described the man’s rescue as a “miracle.” The man had jumped approximately 12 meters from the deck of the ship, making his survival even more remarkable. The fisherman’s discovery was deemed incredible given the circumstances. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority had coordinated a search effort involving various water police and marine rescue units to locate the missing crewman after he failed to report for duty.

Inspector Steve Raymond from Marine Rescue NSW explained that the crew raised the alarm when the man did not show up for his shift. The crew searched the vessel and determined that he was missing, prompting the search operation. Despite the challenging situation, conditions were favorable with excellent visibility in the area. The rescue operation involved boats and helicopters searching approximately seven nautical miles offshore for the missing seafarer.

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