A BUSHLAND Beach couple got the shock of their lives when they received a call stating that a rescue helicopter had been dispatched to look for them while they were still in bed.
Maree Togni was watching the news when she received a call around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday to say that a full search was underway to find her and her husband.
However, they were safe home when the alarm went off by the manual EPIRB device in their boat which was believed to have been shorted by water ingress.
Maree said the device should be waterproof and at first she thought the boat might be missing.
« I thought the boat was out unless someone stole it, » she said. « I ran down the stairs and … it was still there.
« My husband got in the back and the EPIRB was where it needed to be.
« The lady on the phone said an airplane received an unspecified beacon alarm, so apparently an airplane called him first and that triggered the helicopter. »
It took the couple some time to get inside the supposedly waterproof unit to disconnect the corroded battery.
Maree said she hopes the couple’s unusual « rescue » will remind others to protect and store their devices from the rain.
« If I were to shelter for a cyclone, the last thing I would think of would be the EPIRB, » she said.
« It is absolutely awesome to know everything that happened and gives you great confidence that the system is working, but I felt a little guilty that all of those resources went into creating a false positive. »
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said they were aware of the incident but confirmed that they would not request reimbursement as it was activated by mistake.
« Responding quickly to EPIRB alerts is a high priority for AMSA in ensuring the safety of human life, » she said.
« Keeping your beacon dry is an important consideration wherever you live or where you keep your beacon. »
Unintentional activations occur for a variety of reasons, including damage, incorrect disposal, incorrect storage, or incorrect assembly or installation.
While the spokeswoman did not confirm the cost of using a rescue helicopter, it has been labeled « significant » and « in thousands of dollars. »
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Ref: https://www.warwickdailynews.com.au
