Man breaks ankle after wave swamps hired fishing boat

A man was taken to Broome Hospital with a suspected broken ankle after trying to retrieve a fishing boat off Entrance Point.

The man, in a Boab Boat Hire vessel, attempted to drive it onto a trailer when a large wave swamped the boat.

The man sustained an injury after becoming wedged between the boat and a rock.

Local commercial fisherman Adam Masters came across the swamped vessel while he was delivering tradesmen back to Entrance Point.

He said the boat became lost and was heading towards the jetty on an incoming tide.

Mr Masters came to the rescue after offering to tow the boat before it was completely wrecked.

He said the incident was unfortunate and it could happen to anyone, given the lack of adequate boating facilities.

“It’s just the risk of trying to launch and retrieve a small recreational vessel or dinghy,” he said.

“It’s quite dangerous for people … accidents can happen and today was that day.”

Police and an ambulance crew attended the scene.