Most fishing trips end with a story about the one that got away. This week, a crew off South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula came back with a very different tale. The Port Lincoln fishermen who rescued a kangaroo in the middle of Boston Bay had gone out on a routine outing, and they ended up cradling a waterlogged, exhausted roo on the deck of their boat.
The rescue was led by Jake Murray, a diver and farmer who is used to handling wild animals. Skipper Ryan Smith called out that he thought he could see a kangaroo in the water. The rest of the crew assumed he was joking, but they turned the boat around anyway.
How the Kangaroo Rescue Unfolded in Boston Bay
The male kangaroo was about 3km from shore when the crew reached him. He was clearly worn out and had probably been swimming for a long time. The crew used the boat’s sea door, which lowers almost to the waterline, to bring him aboard. Murray said they could slide their hands under the animal’s arms and lift him in without a struggle.
Once on deck, the priority was keeping him calm. A frightened kangaroo is dangerous because of its powerful legs and claws, so Murray held him close and controlled his legs. By his own account, the animal soon relaxed and seemed to doze off in his arms. When the boat reached the shore, the kangaroo rested on the beach for a while and then hopped away.
The Rescue at a Glance
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Location | Boston Bay, off Port Lincoln, South Australia |
| Distance from shore | Roughly 3km |
| Animal | Adult male kangaroo, exhausted and waterlogged |
| Who spotted it | Skipper Ryan Smith |
| Rescue lead | Jake Murray, diver and farmer |
| How it was lifted aboard | Through the boat’s lowered sea door |
| Outcome | Rested on the beach, then bounded away |
Why Was a Kangaroo So Far Out at Sea?
Nobody knows for certain. Murray guessed that calm, flat water and a strong tide may have carried the kangaroo further than he meant to go. He also joked that it was a young male out on a dare. The joke is plausible, though it is only a guess.
Kangaroos are better swimmers than many people expect. They can paddle with their hind legs and are known to take to water, sometimes to escape danger. They are not built for open-ocean distances, though. The likely sequence is that the animal entered the water near the shore, kept swimming, and ran out of options.
What To Do If You Find Wildlife in Trouble on the Water
The crew’s calm approach worked, but their situation was not typical. They had an experienced handler, a boat with a low sea door, and calm conditions. If you come across an animal in distress, a few sensible habits apply:
- Put people first. Do not risk your own safety or your passengers’ for an animal.
- Keep your distance at first. Approach slowly and keep noise to a minimum.
- Stay clear of the legs. Large macropods can injure people badly when frightened.
- Call for advice. Contact a local wildlife rescue group or the state environment department if you are unsure.
- Let it recover. Give the animal a quiet place to rest and do not crowd it.
A Feel-Good Story With a Practical Lesson
Murray said he has seen kangaroos in shallows and on surf beaches before, but never in the middle of a bay. Crewmate Miguel Villarroel, a diver originally from the Galapagos Islands, saw his first kangaroo that day. The Port Lincoln fishermen who rescued the kangaroo have given the region a story it will tell for a long time. It also shows what happens when people stop, take a second look, and act calmly.
