Drunk man attempts a 'Lamma channel swim' finishes with 4-hour time in search and rescue

A drunk foreign man in his forties was rescued from South Horizons waters at approximately 10.30 pm on Friday after allegedly attempting to swim 6 kilometers from Mo Tat Wan, Lamma Island to Aberdeen.

A group of seven male foreigners arrived at Mo Tat Wan at approximately 2.50 pm on Friday for some recreational time on the beach.

According to a local resident, the group had ordered fifty-two beers and two shots of Jack Daniels between them. One was overheard discussing how he was capable of swimming from the Lamma village all the way to Aberdeen, claiming to be such a strong swimmer.

Around 6.30 pm the man was nowhere to be seen. Two of his friends, concerned, started swimming around the area in search of him. A local resident even took to a kayak to assist in the search.

After failing to locate the foreigner, the restaurant owner called the police.

A helicopter and numerous fire and police boats with rescue personnel arrived at the scene. 

After searching for four hours, the man was finally located at around 10.30 pm swimming in the waters of South Horizons unharmed and fully conscious.

Hannah-Lois Strange