A man who died when a whale capsized his boat in Sydney waters has been identified.
Stuart Collings, 61, was pulled unconscious from the water off Cape Banks, La Perouse about 6am after a whale reportedly breached and flipped the boat.
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Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and he was declared dead.
Skipper Darren Curmi, 53, was taken to St George Hospital in a stable condition.
The brothers-in-law had planned to spend their day fishing.
The occupants of another boat who spotted the men’s fishing vessel without anyone on board alerted police, acting Superintendent Siobhan Munro said.
The vessel has been recovered and will undergo forensic testing.
Munro said it was believed the whale breached on or near the boat, which was not unheard of.
“This is a tragic accident but not one that I guess would be unexpected,” Munro said.
It is believed the boat had been in the water for about 45 minutes when the accident happened.
It is unclear if the men were wearing life jackets.
“It’s a stark reminder about the boating season and how dangerous it can be on our waterways,” Munro said.
“Police will be out there on the waterways … conducting compliance checks … and all the things that we do to make sure the community is safe.”
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said an incredible number of whales are about this year and advised swimmers and boaters to stay 100m away from a whale and 300m from a whale with a calf.
The death comes on the first day of National Safe Boating Week.
AMSA acting manager of vessel operations Shontelle Chamtaprieo said safe boating practices can make the difference between life and death on the water.
”Life jackets and distress beacons significantly increase the chances of survival in boating incidents,” she said.
– With AAP
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