Two fishermen who were rescued after a four and a half hour ordeal in big seas off Wanda beach have described it as “a freak accident”.
Update:
9 News reported two fishermen, Wasim Barakat and his cousin Al, today admitted they're lucky to be alive after their boat capsized just before 6pm on Saturday off Wanda beach.
Despite the hazardous surf warnings, the pair set off from Dolans Bay and headed to a flat area before two large waves hit them, the second throwing them into the water.
"First one took us up about six metres and brought us down, the second straight after it looked like it was about to break, so we started the engine and tried to go over it and it just flipped us," Mr Barakat said.
The pair were able to climb onto the top of the boat, where they stayed for more than four hours in the dark as temperatures began to dip.
"Hopefully someone comes and sees us, I was losing blood, I was losing consciousness in and out," Mr Barakat said.
At 9.45pm Mr Barakat went underwater and into the boat, where he managed to find the emergency beacon (EPIRB) and alert authorities.
"It was either die or go under and try and get the EPIRB," he said.
"We just weren't sure what was under there, we know it was all broken.
"We didn't want to get caught under there or get tired or have it turn into a worse situation."
An air ambulance helicopter spotted the pair around 10.30pm.
Water Police were tasked to the area and rescued the pair and brought them back to shore.
The duo were transported to Sutherland Hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia.
This morning Water Police retrieved the boat and pulled it back to shore.
The Bureau of Meteorology have issued a hazardous surf warning for the NSW coastal areas this weekend.
The fishermen have thanked authorities and want their story to be used as a warning to other fishermen to not take any chances.
EARLIER
Two men were rescued after spending four and a half hours sitting on their overturned boat, which capsized off Wanda beach on Saturday night.
Emergency services were called to Bate Bay after an EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radio beacon) was activated from a boat about 9.45pm on Saturday.
A joint rescue effort by police and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was launched, and the boat was located by an ambulance helicopter about one nautical mile off Cronulla about 10.30pm.
Two men, aged 36 and 28, were found sitting on the overturned boat and were taken to a wharf on Tonkin Street at Cronulla, where they were treated by ambulance paramedics before being taken to Sutherland Hospital.
One of the men was treated for lacerations on his head
A police spokesman said the men had not been wearing lifejackets.
“Police have been told the boat capsized about 6pm,” he said.
“After a number of hours one of the men swam back under the vessel to retrieve the EPIRB.”