Peter said the search ended on a positive, “but at the end of the day, it’s something on Christmas Day you don’t think you’re going to be doing”.
In a separate rescue on the same day, Life Saving Victoria winched three kayakers from the open sea as they drifted out to sear near Corinella, on the Bass Coast.
”The Westpac Rescue Lifesaver Helicopter was dispatched and winched three women from choppy waters and returned them to shore,” a spokesperson said. “All three people were conscious and breathing and were wearing lifejackets.
“Kayaking requires constant awareness and good decision-making. Conditions can change quickly, so it is vital kayakers prepare for the environment they are operating in.”
In 2022, four teenage paddleboarders were swept more than 20 kilometres across Port Phillip Bay and lost at sea overnight, before landing at an island reserved for military training and being saved.
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