Volunteer sea rescue crews on the south coast of WA are hailing a simple invention as a possible life saver for people in distress in the ocean. The Albany Sea Rescue Squad raised more than thirteen thousand dollars from donations to buy the device but say if it helps rescue a drowning person the money will be well spent.
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00:00 Think of it as a high-tech lifebuoy, a remotely controlled rescue raft that can go where bigger
00:10 boats cannot.
00:12 In this trial off the Albany coast, volunteer rescue crews are learning how to use it.
00:17 There you go, he's got a thumbs up.
00:19 Bring him to us.
00:20 The person in distress has now grabbed Dolphin 1 and Eddie, using the remote control device,
00:25 is now bringing the person in distress back to the boat.
00:29 The battery-powered jet motors can run for 30 minutes and drag up to 200 kilos, enabling
00:36 rescuers to retrieve two or possibly three people.
00:40 Yeah, it's pretty nifty I reckon.
00:43 There are instances where we will not send jet skis in, particularly against cliff faces,
00:47 it's just too rough.
00:48 So a device like this buys us a bit of time and brings someone out of the whitewater,
00:53 closer to the rescue vessels or the jet skis.
00:55 It's a fantastic tool.
00:57 Usually when people are in a stressed situation underwater, they usually grab onto the first
01:02 thing they can find.
01:04 Having this craft underwater will make a big difference.
01:07 The Dolphin has found service on drilling rigs, ferries and with marine rescues around
01:13 the world.
01:14 The volunteers found local sponsors to help pay for the craft.
01:18 And significantly also, there are many, many wonderful families of people we've rescued
01:23 who have made significant donations and every time they do that they ask us, "Please use
01:28 it for something good."
01:29 I don't think cost comes into it when you're talking about people's lives and I've been
01:33 doing this for 46 years now.
01:35 In that time we've progressed so much and each time we progress it costs dollars and
01:40 you're not going to get progress without spending dollars.
01:43 Volunteer marine rescue groups around the state are watching with interest.
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