GREATER Western Sydney Giants superstar and former Dartmoor resident Jeremy Cameron had to be saved by Manly lifeguards on Sunday when his boat capsized and sunk off the New South Wales Coast.
Cameron and teammate Dawson Simpson were aboard the boat at around 9.30am when large swell caused it to overturn and sink near Shelley Beach.
“We ran into some rough weather just off Shelley beach where we were fishing on Sunday,” Cameron said.
“We had been fishing for a few hours when a rogue wave suddenly came from nowhere and it forced us to jump out of the boat.”
The incident occurred off the rocks at a surf break called Deadmans in what was described as “hazardous surf conditions” on Sunday.
Cameron, an avid fisherman, was helped by local board riders while emergency assistance arrived.
“Some nearby lifeguards saw us in the water and ended up helping us to shore,” Cameron said.
“Unfortunately the boat didn’t survive but apart from a lost phone, we were completely fine.”
A Northern beaches council spokesperson said a jetski was quickly on the scene to retrieve the two men.
“Council lifeguards responded to the emergency on the jetski from Manly,” a Northern beaches council spokesperson said.
“When they arrived on scene, both patients were in the water being supported by local board riders.”
Both Cameron and Simpson were transported to the shore where they were spoken to by local police.
“Council staff picked up the patients and transported them to Shelly Beach where local police were waiting,” the spokesperson said.
“Patients were checked over by lifeguard staff for injuries and didn’t require further treatment.”
Cameron praised lifeguards all across Australia for the job they do to keep people out on the water safe.
“Lifeguards everywhere do a great job along our coastlines and clearly I can’t speak highly enough of how they helped us out on this occasion.”
A Westpac rescue helicopter was also called to the scene on Sunday morning and witnessed the retrieval.
“Lifeguards have rescued two people and the boat has sunk,” the Westpac rescue helicopter Twitter feed said.
“Lifesaver 21 reports that ocean swell is more than two metres, powerful waves.
“No more rock fishing!”
Fortunately Cameron did not receive any injuries from the incident with Greater Western Sydney confirming that he will play in this week’s JLT Series match against the Sydney Swans on Friday night.
New South Wales police were contacted, however declined to comment on the incident.
