Skipper charged after fatal boating crash, NSW

Police have charged the skipper of a boat after a man died when it capsized on the state’s South Coast earlier this year.

Just before 11am (Wednesday 9 February 2022), emergency services were called to North Head, Moruya, following reports a boat had capsized.

Police have been told a six-metre aluminium vessel – carrying three men – tipped over shortly after exiting the Moruya River mouth.

Witnesses on the break wall tossed a lifebuoy to the men, and all three were brought back to shore.

Witnesses and NSW Ambulance Paramedics performed resuscitation on a 66-year-old man; however, he could not be revived and died at the scene.

The skipper, aged 67, was uninjured and taken to Moruya Hospital for mandatory testing. A third man, aged 36, was also uninjured.

Strike Force Barragunda, comprising officers drawn from South Coast Police District and the Marine Area Command, was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Following inquiries, investigators charged the 67-year-old skipper yesterday (Thursday 28 April 2022) with negligent/reckless navigation causing death.

The man will appear at Moruya Local Court on Friday 8 July 2022.

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