SMS message saves fishermen

A text message to a friend saved two Port Denison men and a dog yesterday when their boat sank off Dongara.

The men, aged 20 and 23, left the Port Denison Marina about 5pm to check crayfish pots.

About 20 minutes later, their boat began to take on water and quickly sank.

One of the men managed to send a text to a friend, who came out on his own fishing boat to rescue the pair.

They were in the water for about 45 minutes.

Sergeant Grant Rosman from Dongara police said the men were lucky to have a friend close by.

“It’s important to have all your safety equipment on board as per the requirement, like working radios, flares and in this case a mobile phone,” he said.

“The recreational fishing boat was in the water pretty quickly to lend a hand.”