Heart-stopping moment policeman leaps on to a runaway boat during dramatic rescue of a stricken elderly fisherman
- A 73-year-old man fell overboard while fishing in a Queensland river on Sunday
- The fisherman tried to climb back on board but the boat took off on its own
- Police responded with an officer captured leaping onto the runaway boat
A police officer leapt on to a runaway boat during the dramatic recue of an elderly fisherman whose day on the water went horribly wrong.
The 73-year-old man fell overboard on the Calliope River in Gladstone, central Queensland, on Sunday morning after his boat was rocked by the wake of another vessel.
He desperately tried to pull himself back onto the moving boat but injured his hand on the blades of the motor.
A Queensland Police officer leapt onto a runaway boat on the Calliope River at Gladstone after a 73-year-old fisherman fell overboard
The boat took off on its own, circling uncontrollably along the river.
The distressed fisherman was pulled from the water by three kayakers who responded to his calls for help, before a passing boat came over to take the man back to shore.
Police responded, with one officer commandeering a boat to track down the unmanned out of control tinny.
Once the policeman got the boat close enough, he leaped on to the runaway tinnie before taking control and steering it back to shore.
The fisherman was taken to hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries.
The fisherman attempted to climb back on board after he was knocked over but the boat took off and circled uncontrollably along the river
The fisherman was safely taken back to shore by two men in a passing boat, before he headed to hospital
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