Tourist rescued after falling overboard from a Kokomo Cruises boat while on Gold Coast whale watching cruise
A woman has been rescued after a terrifying ordeal on a whale watching cruise boat off the coast of Queensland.
The tourist fell overboard from a Kokomo Cruises ship as visitors gathered to watch a pod of whales on the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.
She clung to a life preserver and her phone, which shocked the others on board, helped her back onto the boat.
Kokomo Cruise founder Nic Jones said the woman went overboard after her jacket became tangled in a locking pin on the boat’s gate.
The woman grabbed a life preserver and her phone as other people on board tried to save her
A Gatton woman has been rescued after falling overboard from a Kokomo Cruises ship off the coast of Queensland
“At the end of the cruise, when she returned to her seat, the gate was unlocked and she was knocked off balance at the same time,” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘It was a very shocking incident – thank God she is okay.’
It is understood the woman was visiting from Gatton in the Lockyer Valley of south-east Queensland.
Another tour operator, Whale Watch Queensland, saw the incident and intervened to assist in the rescue.
Whale Watch Queensland owner Gemma Sharp said they slowed down and approached the woman.
“She was sitting on our right and we reached out with a gaff, a long stick with a hook on the end, so she grabbed it,” she said. 9News.
Ms Sharp said they gently pulled the woman towards the doorway, where her sister and father lifted her back onto the boat.
Kokomo Cruises will prepare a report for the maritime safety authority.
The company also thanked Whale Watch Queensland for their assistance.
Shocked whale watchers helped the woman back into the ship