Tragic Boat Incident At 6-Foot D-Bah Leaves One Man Dead, Another Hospitalised - Stab Mag
4087 Views
Wrong place, wrong time, wrong swell, wrong tide. Photo: About Town, Coolangatta

Tragic Boat Incident At 6-Foot D-Bah Leaves One Man Dead, Another Hospitalised

Today ain’t the day for boating.

news // Jul 13, 2024
Words by Jack O'Neill Paterson
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Early this morning, as six-foot offshore peaks peppered the QLD-NSW oceanic border, a 6.5m half-cabin runabout capsized while attempting to cross the Tweed River Bar. 

Emergency services responded to reports of two men clinging to the overturned hull. One man was rescued and taken to Tweed Heads Hospital, while the second, winched lifeless from the ocean by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, couldn’t be revived. 

The two men reportedly launched in the dark from the Kennedy Drive boat ramp around low-tide, which is said to be the worst time to do so, and were promptly upended by a wave.  

The entire incident went down before 6am. 

Meanwhile, just around the corner…

The east coast points have been lighting up over the last couple of days, with the swell peaking this morning. What possessed the two men to attempt to punch through an unpredictable and shifting Dbah on a small fishing boat before sunrise, remains an ill-fated mystery.  

At the time of rescue, neither men were said to be wearing life jackets. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

The Top 5 Aerialists Of All Time, According To Chippa Wilson | StabMic Episode 07

"The sections he hits are beyond gnarly."

Mar 27, 2026

“People Were Fucking Swimming Out Of Their Homes In The Middle Of The Night”

A North Shore flood report from Nathan Fletcher and lifeguard Kyle Foyle.

Mar 26, 2026

Stab’s 2026 Rookie Class Review Featuring Owen Wright, Doug Silva, And CJ Hobgood

Crisp insights from a 4x CT winner, a supercoach, and a World Champ.

Mar 25, 2026

Could Paul Naudé Buy Rip Curl At A $200 Million Discount?

Corporate lobotomy at Kathmandu.

Mar 25, 2026

Watch: The Kelly Files Vol. 1

Unredacted interviews from Stab in the Dark X + Kelly's boards up for grabs.

Mar 25, 2026

Breaking: Gabriel Medina Has A New Coach For 2026

He's a fellow Brazilian world champ, heat tactician, and dare we say the perfect man…

Mar 25, 2026

Teaching People How To Surf Is Now A Legitimate Career Path

Enter the land of private jets and A-list cliques.

Mar 24, 2026

Robbo’s Back On Track(tors), Medina’s Ménage À Trois, Rip Curl Drops Wright, Tenōre In Turmoil 

Some days you’re the dog, some days you’re the hydrant.

Mar 22, 2026

A 15-Year-Old Snowboard Phenom + A 3-Minute Tube Hunter Walk Into StabMic

“If I didn’t have a GoPro, no one would believe me,” says Koa Smith.

Mar 21, 2026

Stab Interview: Israel’s First CT Surfer

Anat Lelior on military service, online hate, and her unique path to professional surfing.

Mar 19, 2026

Watch: Episode Two Of ‘VELA’ Featuring John John Florence

This time with Nate, Ivan, and another untouched reef pass.

Mar 19, 2026

So, What Do CT Surfers Think About Manu Bay?

A scene report from the Tasman Sea with Jack Robinson, Connor O’Leary, Luke Cederman, and…

Mar 18, 2026

What’s It Actually Like Surfing Mundaka?

A day in the life of a non-local goofy.

Mar 17, 2026

How To: Quit Professional Surfing

At what point do you walk away from the endless QS > CS > CT…

Mar 17, 2026

Why Did 50 Men Just March Into The Sahara With Surfboards And Moroccan Flags?

The story of a decades-old feud and the desert wave it exposed.

Mar 15, 2026

Meet The 2026 Qualifying Class

The CS is done; the CT begins in two weeks.

Mar 15, 2026

SEOTY: Imaikalani deVault Stars In ‘Little Bits’

"He pretty much got to the CT on talent alone.”

Mar 13, 2026

JJF + Dane Reynolds Recall The Best Session Of Their Lives

"It felt like you could do anything you wanted.”

Mar 13, 2026
Advertisement