A 51-year-old woman and her 17-year-old stepson were rescued on Christmas Day after drifting 10 kilometres in Port Phillip Bay, clinging to new paddleboards for three hours. The pair had set out from a jetty at a Portarlington caravan park around 3pm, using boards they had just received as gifts.
Police say strong south-westerly winds of up to 35 knots and choppy conditions swept them away. A family member reported them missing two hours later, triggering a large-scale search involving a police helicopter, water police boats, the Queenscliff volunteer coastguard, and a Surf Lifesaving Victoria rescue helicopter.
The police air wing spotted the pair around 6:20pm, about 10 kilometres from their starting point, with their arms linked and clinging to the boards. A police vessel guided by the helicopter rescued them. They were treated for mild hypothermia but did not require hospitalisation.
Acting Senior Sergeant Michael Quirk noted the water temperature was 17 degrees Celsius and the pair lacked life jackets. He said they were 'extremely lucky' to stay with their boards, as separation could have been fatal. The rescue was among six water-related incidents on Christmas Day, including three kayakers rescued off the Bass Coast and an overdue kayaker found at Paynesville.
The mother and stepson expressed gratitude in a statement, saying they were 'exhausted, very shaken' and aware of how close they came to tragedy. Authorities urged water users to carry safety gear and remain vigilant as conditions can change rapidly.
