Fishermen and dog survive six hours lost at sea

On Tuesday morning, Stephen Innes and his brother Brian were checking cray pots off Boatswain Point in South Australia when a sudden and unexpected wave capsized their boat, throwing them and their three-legged Jack Russell dog, Luna, into the ocean. Despite having a combined experience of 120 years in fishing, they found themselves unprepared for the life-threatening situation that unfolded. Both men were wearing life jackets, but Brian's jacket failed to inflate. In a desperate struggle for survival, Brian clung to Stephen’s jacket, with Luna placed on Stephen's chest to protect her from the cold water. As they floated in the chilly conditions, the brothers fought against hypothermia, which set in as they treaded water for hours. They had planned to meet friends at 11 am, and when they did not arrive, a search was initiated shortly after 2:30 pm. Police, State Emergency Service volunteers, and local fishermen organized a search operation, which included the deployment of a search and rescue plane from Victoria. Around 5 pm, the adverse weather conditions changed their situation, pushing them closer to shore. However, another wave struck them, separating Luna from the brothers. Stephen Innes recalled a terrifying moment when he lost sight of Luna, fearing she had been swept away. Fortunately, the two fishermen were ultimately spotted by a surfer, who alerted rescuers just as a storm approached. Miraculously, Luna also made it back to the shore safely and was found unharmed, having likely floated to safety ahead of the brothers. Both Stephen and Brian received treatment for hypothermia at Kingston Hospital and are now recovering from the ordeal. Luna, the three-legged dog who accompanied them on their fishing trip, remained in good condition throughout the incident, illustrating the remarkable resilience of the trio during a terrifying experience at sea.