At approximately 8:00pm on Sunday 23/1/11, Australian Search and Rescue in Canberra detected an EPIRB activation near West Arthur Head, south of Port Arthur.  It was known that the EPIRB was being carried by two men who were kayaking in the area and subsequently the Westpac Police Rescue Helicopter was deployed as well as the Police Vessel “Dauntless”.

The helicopter located the two men after dark near cliffs beneath Mt Brown and remained on scene until Dauntless arrived about 45 minutes later.  The helicopter then provided lighting to the area while the crew of Dauntless was able to rescue the two men.

It was later discovered that one of the men had been rolled by a wave in rough seas and had spent approximately 20 minutes in the water.  They were then trapped in a bay surrounded by cliffs and were unable to make it to shore or paddle any further in the rough conditions away from the bay.

Tasmania Police Media
(03) 6230 2867