Epirb may have saved man's life

BELLE TAYLORThe West Australian A man has told a coronial inquest he tried to keep his mates head above water moments before he drowned, urging his friend to keep swimming for the sake of

his fiance and son. Eldilio Pereira, 31, described the dramatic scene at the coronial inquest into the death of Ricardo Madeira da Silva, who drowned in April 2010 after his boat capsized on

a fishing trip off Two Rocks. The aluminium boat was equipped with flares and lifejackets but no EPIRB - an emergency response system which can help authorities pin point a boat’s location.

The two day coronial inquest is investigating if current regulations relating to EPIRB’s are adequate. Boats are allowed to not have an EPIRB if they only travel two nautical miles from

shore. Mr da Silva’s boat was discovered by a Whitfords Volunteer Marine Rescue boat 3.4 nautical miles off-shore several hours after the three men who were on the boat had abandoned it in

an attempt to swim to shore. Mr Pereira told State Coroner Alastair Hope today how the fishing boat engine cut out after the propeller got caught in a rope. Rough seas capsized the boat

forcing himself, 27-year old Mr da Silva, known as Ricky, and 15-year old Kevin da Silva into the water. “Ricky decided to go under water to get life jackets,” Mr Pereira said. “He got Kevin

one then me one and then he got one for himself.” The three men stayed with the boat for between 30 minutes and an hour before the rough seas convinced them they should attempt to swim to

shore. They lay on their back and linked arms and tried to head in the direction of shore. “After a few hours Ricky started breathing really heavy,” Mr Pereira said. “We told him he had a

kid and a missus to go home to,” he said. “There were waves that kept washing around us pushing us under the water. “I was using my hand under his head to keep it above water. “He kept

yelling out but not yelling words yelling like he was in pain. “White foam was coming out of his mouth.” Mr Pereira and Kevin da Silva, who is no relation to the deceased, were forced to

leave their friend in the water after watching him pass away as they swam together. They were later found by a rescue helicopter after spending over six hours in the water. Investigating

officer Detective first class constable Hayley Burke told the inquest the boat had inadequate repairs and was not designed to be in open water. She also said the safety equipment on board

the boat was not adequate. “If there had been an EPIRB on board there is a high likelihood he would have survived,” she said. The inquest before Mr Hope continues. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM

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