A woman has been rescued after a terrifying experience during a whale watching cruise off the coast of Queensland.
The tourist fell overboard from a Kokomo Cruises ship as visitors gathered to watch a pod of whales off the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.
She clung to a lifebuoy ring and her phone, while the surprised others on board helped her back to the boat.
Kokomo Cruise founder Nic Jones said the woman fell overboard after her jacket became tangled in a locking pin on the ship’s door.
The woman clung to a lifebuoy and her phone as other people on board tried to rescue her.
A Gatton woman has been rescued after falling overboard from a Kokomo Cruises ship off the Queensland coast.
“At the end of the cruise, when he was going to return to his seat, the door opened and at the same time he lost his balance,” he told the newspaper. Gold Coast Newsletter.
“It was a very shocking incident; thank God she is absolutely fine.”
It is understood the woman was visiting from Gatton, in the Lockyer Valley in southeast Queensland.
Another tour operator, Whale Watch Queensland, saw the incident unfold and intervened to assist in the rescue.
Whale Watch Queensland owner Gemma Sharp said they slowed down and approached the woman.
“She was on our right side and we basically reached out with a grappling hook, which is a long stick with a hook on the end, so she grabbed it,” he said. 9News.
Sharp said they gently pushed the woman to the door, where her sister and father loaded her into the boat.
Kokomo Cruises will prepare a report for the maritime safety authority.
The company also thanked Whale Watch Queensland for their assistance.
The surprised whale watchers helped the woman back to the boat.
