Overview
- Police said a 51-year-old woman and her 17-year-old stepson set off from the Portarlington caravan park jetty about 3pm before being carried away from shore.
- A family member called Triple Zero roughly two hours later, prompting a search involving the police air wing, water police, Life Saving Victoria and the Queenscliff Coast Guard.
- The police helicopter located the pair at about 6:20pm near Wyndham Harbour, and a water police vessel brought them aboard without injury.
- Paramedics assessed the two for mild hypothermia but did not take them to hospital, with officers noting they had no lifejackets in 17C water and winds up to 35 knots.
- After thanking rescuers in a statement, the pair’s experience was used by authorities to urge paddlers to check conditions and carry required safety gear, including lifejackets and distress beacons.