 |
Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial
|
 |
Patric C A Johnson
Jason Charles Johnson
Joshua Vere Colgrave (2006)
The plaque reads ...
Patric C.A. Johnson (59)
Lason Charles Johnson (36)
Joshua Vere Colgrave (16)
23.04.2006 Competitors in Australian
Bluefin Tuna Championships returning to
pot in worsening weather conditions
boat overturned in vicinity Hippolyte
Rocks. Only 2 of 5 on board survived
Three generations of the same family drowned when their 5.8 metre aluminiun boat was swamped by a large wave causing it to overturn throwing the occupants into the sea. They died on the 23rd of April 2006 at sea in the vicinity of Hippolyte Rocks. Tragically all were closely related - Patric Johnson (59), his son Jason (36) and grandson Joshua Colgrave (16).
They and two survivors had travelled initially to fish near Cape Pillar then on to the Hippolytes with the intention of competing in the Australian Bluefin Tuna Championship being conducted by the Tuna Club of Tasmania. They decided to return to Fortescue Bay due to the roughening weather conditions, however their vessel was swamped and sank leaving the five fishermen in the water. All were wearing PFD's but had been unable to reach the EPIRB on the vessel.
At the Coroner's Inquest, the coroner felt that contributing factors in the tragedy were the weather and sea conditions, that the vessel was carrying more persons than was advisable, the fitting and accessibility of the EPIRB, and the questionable internal buoyancy of the vessel. He also emphasised the need for competition organisers to have clear guidelines for competitors, always erring on the side of safety. In conclusion however he stressed that the action or lack of action by organisers or others can never displace the responsibility of the operator of a boat and the occupants of that boat to make safe decisions as to whether or not to venture out to sea or to remain out in adverse weather conditions.
The coroner commended the owner and operator of Black Pearl, Mr Matthew Martin and the occupants of the boat for their efforts in locating and recovering the occupants of the ill-fated vessel. They clearly exposed themselves to added danger in bringing five additional persons on board their boat and their efforts in attempting to revive the deceased persons and safely returning the overloaded vessel to port deserves appropriate recognition.
All three of the deceased were from the small Tasman Peninsula town of Nubeena.
Two others aboard the boat were saved.
Read the Coroner's Report on the deaths of the three fishermen.