Students rescued as kayaks capsize in squalls

Updated

June 20, 2012 19:44:26


River landscape

Photo:

The kayakers encountered rough conditions on the normally tranquil Blackwood River. (file) (Sharon Kennedy: ABC News)

A group of high school students is recovering after a number of canoes capsized during an expedition near Augusta in Western Australia.

The 17 students and their teacher from Busselton’s Mackillop Catholic College were canoeing on the Blackwood River when strong squalls whipped up the normally tranquil waters.

Several of the canoes capsized, throwing students into the freezing cold river.

Two vessels from the Augusta Marine and Rescue Services responded to the group’s call for help and ferried the students to a jetty near Hardy Inlet.

Several ambulances and a police vehicle ferried three people suffering hypothermia and a girl suffering an asthma attack to Augusta Hospital.

The remainder of the group was also conveyed to hospital as a precaution.

The school says all procedures were followed and have thanked emergency services for their assistance.

Topics:
accidents—other,
augusta-6290,
perth-6000

First posted

June 20, 2012 18:50:22



More
stories from Western Australia

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes