A decade has passed since a ferocious east coast low unleashed its fury on the Hunter coastline, testing the limits of human courage and marine rescue capability. On the 10th anniversary, volunteers who faced winds of 80 knots and swells up to eight metres gathered to remember the tragedy and the extraordinary bravery displayed over two terrifying days in January 2016.
A Maelstrom of Wind and Water
The storm system that struck on January 6 and 7, 2016, was catastrophic. Veteran crew member Richard Pizzuto recalls wind gusts hitting 80 knots and a combined sea and swell of six to eight metres pounding the Port Stephens coast. "A handful of sailing vessels transiting the area were caught in this maelstrom and a dire situation rapidly evolved," he said.
The tragedy began just before midday on January 6, when 62-year-old Mal Lennon was washed overboard from his yacht, Amante, north of Broughton Island. A major search involving Westpac rescue helicopters, police vessels, and the Marine Rescue vessel Danial Thain was launched, but atrocious weather forced its suspension with no sign of the missing sailor.
Rescue Crews Pushed to the Limit
As that search unfolded, the crisis deepened. The Port Stephens radio base would receive five separate mayday calls, stretching local search and rescue capabilities to their absolute limit. The Danial Thain, a 52-foot Arun-class vessel, was at the heart of the response.
After towing one vessel from Cabbage Tree Island and joining the search for Mr. Lennon, the crew returned to base near 8pm with the stricken Amante under escort, having battled the savage seas for over ten hours. "None of the returning crew, some with 30-plus years in the maritime environment, could recall worse conditions," the accounts state.
The Night of the "Washing Machine"
The ordeal was far from over. A second crew was dispatched aboard Danial Thain when another yacht, M3 Mulberry Racing, lost its engine and called for help. Venturing out past Tomaree Headland, they entered what rescuers describe as a "washing machine"—a churning mass of water where swell and rocky reflections combine.
As they attempted to reach the casualty, disaster struck. Richard Pizzuto recounts the moment: "A massive roar was the first sign of impending mayhem... a churning wall of white water at least 20 feet high charging out of the darkness." The wave hammered into the 35-tonne rescue vessel, knocking it onto its port side and driving it towards the beach.
Crew member Ian Drummond said they were knocked down three times. "The bridge ended up underwater on the rollover," he said, suffering a dislocated shoulder that later required a full replacement. Miraculously, the crew managed to right the vessel and turn it into the oncoming waves. The five people aboard M3 Mulberry Racing abandoned ship and made it safely to shore.
The battered and injured rescue crew returned to base, fortunate to have everyone still on board. Pizzuto later reflected, "I could think of no better boat than the Danial Thain to be on, and no better crew to be with."
A Legacy of Courage and Community
On Tuesday, January 10, 2026, crew members and those they saved reunited at Restaurant 2317 in Soldiers Point, honoured by Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and Mayor Leah Anderson. The gathering was a poignant reminder of the bonds forged in crisis.
In 2023, the bravery of that January was formally recognised. Eighteen members of Port Stephens Marine Rescue received awards, with volunteer Laurie Nolan awarded the Star of Courage for "conspicuous courage." Volunteer Sue Freeman summed up the ethos of the service: "We did not expect it, at the time it was just another job... The fact is we can work together and get the job done."
Ten years on, the memory of the storm and the loss of Mal Lennon remains a powerful testament to the dangers of the sea and the extraordinary courage of the volunteers who answer the call when mayday signals pierce the static.
