Source – Marine Rescue Port Stephens Facebook
PAN PAN at Sea – Medical Emergency 25 Nautical Miles Offshore
At 8:45am on Sunday morning 27 July, Marine Rescue Port Stephens received a PAN PAN call via marine radio — a specific distress signal used when a vessel is in serious difficulty, but not at immediate risk of sinking. In this case, it came from a yacht competing in the Noakes Sydney to Gold Coast Yacht Race, with a crew of 11 aboard.
A 77-year-old male had collapsed onboard. He was unconscious, then delirious and disoriented. The crew onboard responded swiftly, administering critical first aid — rehydrating him and keeping him stable. Their calm, capable actions at sea made a significant difference and helped shape the course of the rescue.
A High-Speed Response
Rescue vessel PS31 launched from d’Albora Marina and pushed to an average speed of 28 knots to reach the yacht, located approximately 25 nautical miles offshore near Broughton Island. Even at that pace, the run took nearly an hour.
If you saw PS31 powering through the bay Sunday morning — this was why.
To support planning, a helicopter medivac was also discussed during the early phase of the incident. But once our crew arrived on scene and assessed the patient, it was determined that a sea transfer and road ambulance was the safest course.
Transfer at Sea
Bringing two vessels together at sea is always a challenge — especially with 1.5m swells, partial sail still deployed, and limited manoeuvrability. The torn sails told the story of a rough morning offshore.
PS31 MR Master Peter Wood described the moment of transfer:
“The yacht was struggling to hold position and drop sails, so we had to make the transfer at sea. In situations like this, we have to judge the movement of both vessels and get close enough to safely ‘jump’ a casualty across while holding station.”
Volunteer crew member Grant Leddie, who performed the transfer, added:
“With an almighty heave of the lifejacket, I grabbed the patient and lifted him clear — straight through the air — onto our deck. It was one of those ‘superhuman dad strength’ moments. I definitely used muscles I didn’t know I had — and I’ll feel it all week.”
Shortly after, the patient’s companion also became unwell and was brought aboard for monitoring.
Tech, Coordination, and Care
Thanks to the yacht’s AIS, our crew was able to pinpoint the vessel’s exact location quickly amid rolling seas — a vital tool in wide offshore operations.
Once onboard PS31, our crew took and relayed vital signs — including blood pressure and oxygen levels — directly to NSW Ambulance, who were standing by at the wharf.
Water Police responded as well, arriving on scene and shadowing PS31 during its return to Nelson Bay. The excellent, multi-layered agency coverage that supports our community was in full effect.
Our radio base played a central role, keeping all moving parts connected:
“Our radio room linked the operation together, coordinating with Marine Area Command, Race Control, Zone Duty Officer, Water Police, and the vessel itself.”
“The Gan Gan repeater — remotely activated from our base — enabled long-range communication throughout the operation.”
Four Hours. One Purpose.
The full mission ran just over four hours. Some crew responded so quickly, they arrived in civilian clothes. There’s probably a cold avo toast or forgotten coffee somewhere in town.
But what mattered most?
Everyone got home safe.
Ordinary Locals. Extraordinary Moments.
This is what volunteering looks like: fast action, teamwork, and steady hands in high seas. If you’re ready to give back — on the water, in the radio room, or behind the scenes — we’d love to have you.
If you’d like to support us, we are doing a fuel fundraiser here:
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@MarineRescuePS
Marine Rescue Port Stephens
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