About 7:45pm last night, Thursday 22 December 2022, the Water Police Coordination Centre in North Fremantle received information regarding a vessel being located out of control on the eastern side of Garden island, with no person on board.
While the vessel was turning in a circle pattern, due to the high speed at which it was operating it was not safe to approach the vessel.
Water Police deployed several search assets to the area including a water police vessel, police plane, police helicopter and marine rescue vessels from DFES Marine Rescue groups based in Rockingham, Cockburn and Fremantle.
About 20 minutes into the search a male person was located in the water by private vessels which were in the area at the time. He was rescued from the water and was subsequently taken to the Woodman Point Boat Ramp by DFES Marine Rescue Cockburn, where Water Police had arranged for St John WA to meet them to assess the man's health and possible injuries.
Water Police remained in the vicinity of the out of control vessel and monitored it until it ran out of fuel. The vessel was then towed to Fremantle.
End Release
Police Media Unit
23 December 2022
MEDIA REF: 18098
