Rocks Claim Another Victim
Central Coast Herald
Saturday April 3, 2004
A KOREAN man is believed drowned after he was swept off rocks at one of the state's most notorious fishing platforms yesterday.
The man was standing with a friend at Snapper Point in Munmorah State Recreation Area at noon when he was hit by a wave and dragged into the sea.
His bucket, fishing rod and jacket were recovered by divers beneath the rock shelf but the man was not seen again after he disappeared.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter diver Graham Nickisson said the sea was relatively calm and clear, but the conditions were deceptive.
``I could see a bucket and some of his belongings directly down below when we went in," he said.
``There's an underreaching rock shelf but the undercurrent was a bit too strong for us to get
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Notorious fishing area claims new victim
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in there. We can only assume that he hasn't gone further out to sea.
``Obviously grave fears are held for the man."
Police called a Korean translator to talk with the man's friend and with a distraught woman, believed to be the man's partner, who arrived on the site and left a short time later.
It is the second drowning at Snapper Point this year after an elderly man fell from rocks while walking.
A National Parks and Wildlife Service spokeswoman said an ``angel" flotation device was at the fishing spot but was not used.
Korean language signs are displayed at Snapper Point and at the entrance to the recreation area warning of the dangers of rock fishing.
Munmorah State Recreation Area is listed as one of the eight most dangerous fishing spots in NSW.
The State Government's SafeWaters website lists rock fishing as the country's most dangerous sport, with 74 rock fishermen losing their lives in NSW between 1992 and 2002.
The Entrance fisherman and bait and tackle shop owner Peter Clifton said he regularly warned inexperienced people against rock fishing.
``Some of the ones I worry most about are Asian people who hear about Snapper Point being a good fishing spot and come up with big plans to pull in big fish," he said.
``I try to warn them against it. It's a very dangerous spot.
``I go rock fishing but before I start I sit and watch the waves for 20 minutes to half an hour to get an idea what the sea's doing."
© 2004 Central Coast Herald
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