MO-1996-206

On Tuesday, 25 June 1996, at approximately 1420 hours, a rock-fishing charter group of six passengers and one guide was returning to the beach from where they had launched in the "Hunky Dory", a 5.5m aluminium dory, when the craft was overwhelmed by seas and foundered. Five of the passengers swam for the shore. Four succeeded and raised the alarm. The fifth swimmer, after spending nine hours in the water, succumbed to exhaustion and drowned. The design, loading and corresponding freeboard of the craft combined with the sea conditions were factors contributing to the foundering. Safety issues identified included the need to observe the fundamental rules for small boat safety.