SES mountain rescue – again CREWS from Sorrento SES were involved in another successful rescue after an accident on the Red Hill mountain bike trail, 3pm, Sunday 12 July. Whereas last week they used their “mule litter wheel” to evacuate a young rider after he crashed over a jump, this time they drove their four-wheel-drive up the track to rescue an 18-year-old man with a broken collar bone. SES controller Mark Daw said crews made it up the track near Boundary Road, Dromana, before Ambulance Victoria arrived. “We assessed the patient who was suffering a broken collarbone after going over the handlebars,” he said. “He was with his dad. It was quickly getting cold and he was in a lot of pain.” Ambulance Victoria arrived from the other side of the hill with the park rangers and assessed the rider’s injuries. “They were happy for us to slowly drive the patient out to a waiting ambulance up the top of the hill not far from Eatons Cutting, with the medics travelling inside with the patient.” The SES advises mountain bike riders to “know your limits, wear safety gear, and always make sure you’re not alone”.
High but not dry A VOLUNTEER Marine Rescue crew from Hastings found the water at Middle Bank in Western Port too shallow to assist a boat which had run aground, just after midnight, Sunday 12 July. “The occupants were concerned about waves breaking over the 6.75-metre vessel,” VMR president Neil Cooper said. “When VMR’s TX1 arrived, the boat was in too shallow water to assist. However, with an incoming tide, they were able to get themselves off. “This is an extremely dangerous piece of water and it is best to give it a very wide berth. “VMR has assisted many vessels there, some, unfortunately, not able to be retrieved due to the
shallow water and extreme wave action.” VMR’s Hastings vessel also towed a boat which had run out of fuel to Warneet. “As all of this was happening, one of our members was cruising home after a morning’s fishing and came across a vessel with engine issues,” Mr Cooper said. “He assisted that boat back to Hastings.” He said rescue crews “covered a lot of miles in 25 hours”. Earlier, on Port Phillip, a Volunteer Marine Rescue Mornington crew assisted a broken down boat from the other side of the bay, Saturday afternoon 11 July. “It had come from Werribee for a spot of fishing, but then broke down requiring assistance,” VMR president Neil Cooper said. “Mornington’s vessel AK1 attended and towed the 4.57-metre vessel with three people aboard to Martha Cove while a relative drove the trailer around to collect them. “Although we always try to return vessels to the ramp they launch from, sometimes it is just too far to tow. In this instance we were directed by Water Police to tow to the nearest safest harbor.”
Hastings car fire A CAR fire at Hastings last week is being investigated by the police. Hastings CFA crews responded to the call at the corner of Hendersons Road and Pineview Lane, 4pm, Thursday 9 July. The VW Amarok was well alight.
Porsche down and out CAR thieves trying to steal a 2020 Porsche from the garage of a Portsea beachfront house early Monday morning may have panicked before driving the car over a 2.5-metre cliff. Unable to drive the Porsche, the offenders then made their getaway by stealing a Mercedes Benz. Detective Leading Senior Constable Shane Moodie, of Somerville CIU, said two or possibly three offenders entered the garage of the Point Nepean Road property, 2am, Monday 13 July. “It appears one of the offenders reversed the new Porsche out of the garage and over the cliff where it remained,” Detective Moodie said. The car’s owner awoke when he heard noise and went to investigate. He was punched in the face as he tried to prevent the other offender from stealing a Mercedes C63 from the garage. He fell to the ground with minor injuries. Highway patrol police pursued the Mercedes along Point Nepean Road and onto Peninsula Link without success. It was later found dumped in Langwarrin. Detective Moodie said there were “no suspects at this stage”. One offender is described as “short and wearing a white top and white surgical mask”. The other offender was not seen but the victim believes they spoke to each other “in a foreign language”.
Paraglider safe THE police Air Wing used a dye marker to signal the location of a paraglider’s kite floating off St Andrews beach on the weekend. Acting Sergeant Ron Trainer, of Rosebud police, said 000 callers had reported a “possible person in distress” after seeing a paraglider ditch into rough seas, 3pm, Sunday 12 July. Crews from Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad retrieved the kite but there was no sign of the pilot. Witnesses said he managed to untangle himself and make it to shore unharmed before leaving the scene without giving his name and address. “We attended and recovered the kite and it is now at Rosebud police station,” Sergeant Trainer
said. “When the owner comes to collect it we can piece the jigsaw together.”
House destroyed A WEATHERBOARD house was destroyed by fire during an early morning blaze at Red Hill last week. Incident controller Graeme Briggs, of Balnarring CFA, said the house near the corner of Red Hill and Dunn’s Creek roads had been on fire “for some time” when they arrived, 6am, Tuesday 7 July. Crews from Red Hill, Balnarring, Somers and Bittern were on the scene until 11.30am.
Smoke alert for CFA ROSEBUD and Rye CFA crews managed to contain a blaze to the one property at Capel Sound, 4pm, Tuesday 7 July. Smoke was visible from the fire station when crews raced to the Wyuna Street house which was joined to its neighbour by a common wall. Crews who entered the brick house were later required to decontaminate as protection against possible asbestos in the building. They were on the scene for about 60 minutes.
Shed fire CFA brigades from Rosebud, Dromana, Mount Martha, Boneo and Narre Warren rushed to a shed fire at Rosebud South last week. The building was fully alight when they arrived, 6.35pm, Monday 6 July. The firefighters blamed a high fuel load and structural instability for hampering their efforts to control the blaze. It was only brought under control when they forced their way into the rear of the shed.
Three-time winners ROSEBUD and Rye CFA units helped the Fire Rescue Victoria pumper to extinguish a shed fire at Capel Sound, 5am, Friday 10 July. The fire in Tarwarri Avenue was the third “significant structure” fire the crews tackled in the area in a week.
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