Rock Fishing in WA: Plan for Rescue Without Becoming Another Casualty
Drowning and water safety
Rock Fishing in WA: Plan for Rescue Without Becoming Another Casualty
What a Western Australian coronial finding teaches us about life jackets, communication and rescuing someone from the water safely.
By Britt Brennan, REACHAU | 3 November 2026
Quick answer: Rock fishing rescues are hard and dangerous, and the best first aid is prevention and a rescue plan made before the trip. ANZCOR guidance is to rescue from land or a craft where possible, throw something that floats, call for help, and only enter the water with flotation if it is safe. If a person is pulled out and is not breathing normally, start CPR with 30 compressions and 2 breaths, and use an AED as soon as it arrives.
Rock fishing is a big part of life on the Western Australian coast. For many people it is a weekend ritual, a family tradition or a way to feed the household. It is also one of the places where a situation can change in seconds, and where the nearest help can be a long way off.
This article looks at a published Western Australian coronial finding about two men who were swept from rocks near Albany. It is written with respect for them and for everyone who loved them. The aim is simple: to help fishing groups, clubs and families think about what to plan before the next trip.
Please note that the finding is from 2018. Some of what it recommended has been discussed or acted on since, so check current rules for where you fish.
What the coroner found
What the finding says
The Deputy State Coroner delivered one finding covering the deaths of Chunjun Li and Jiaolong Zhang on 16 March 2018, after an inquest in Albany. In April 2015 the two men were fishing from rocks at the Salmon Holes in Torndirrup National Park when a series of waves, with the last coming from behind, swept them into the sea. Conditions were described as particularly rough, with a massive swell. Neither man was wearing a life jacket. Mr Li was brought to shore by a bystander and others tried to resuscitate him without success. Mr Zhang was not recovered, despite a four day search, and the coroner found his death was established and likely due to drowning. The manner of death for both men was accident.
The coroner found that it was not feasible for anyone to enter the water to reach Mr Li, and a flotation device that was thrown could not be used because he was unconscious. A bystander who later helped bring him in did so at considerable risk. The coroner commended the people who tried to help without hesitation.
The finding also records that a suitable life jacket would have increased the chance of survival for both men. It adds that wearing a life jacket may not always save a life.
The coroner made five recommendations. They were about life jackets and emergency beacons for rock fishers, mobile phone and marine radio coverage near the site, communication plans for marine search and rescue, and clearer rules for using drones in search and rescue. None of them changes CPR technique.
Anything else in this article is my teaching suggestion. It is not a finding of the coroner, and it is not a comment on what the two men or their families should have done.
Prevention comes before first aid
When someone is in the water in heavy swell, first aid cannot start until they are out. That is why the recommendations in this case are about systems and preparation, not resuscitation.
ANZCOR guidance on drowning says the same. Prevention matters most: obey safety signs, know the conditions, know how and when to use a life jacket, and learn first aid and CPR.
Some questions worth asking as a group before you leave home:
Have we checked the swell, wind and conditions for the exact spot?
Does everyone have a life jacket that suits rock fishing, and do they know how it works?
Has someone who is not coming told where we are and when we expect to be back?
Do we know the name of the site, the access track and a landmark we could describe to a 000 call taker?
Will we have phone signal there, and what is our plan if we do not?
These are my suggestions. Adapt them to your group, your location and the rules that apply today.
Why entering the water is not the plan
It is natural to want to jump in and reach someone. In rough water, that is how a rescue becomes a second emergency.
ANZCOR guidance for drowning is clear about the order of preference. If the person is still in the water, only try a rescue if it is safe. Rescue from land or from a craft is safest. In practice:
Call for help straight away. Call 000 or ask someone else to do it.
Throw something that floats, so the person has something to hold.
If entering the water is not safe, do not go in. Wait for rescue services.
Only enter the water with some form of flotation, and only if it is safe to do so.
In the finding, a flotation device was thrown, but Mr Li could not respond. A bystander who later went into the surf said he realistically should not have, and was nearly swept out himself. That is the real risk, and it is why thinking about it before the trip matters.
If a person is brought out of the water
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, they need CPR straight away. ANZCOR guidance for drowning includes some important points:
Place the person on their back and check for breathing.
If they are not breathing normally, start CPR with 30 compressions and 2 breaths.
Rescue breaths matter in drowning, because the main problem is the interrupted oxygen supply. ANZCOR strongly discourages compression only CPR except as a temporary measure if you cannot give breaths.
Do not delay CPR while waiting for oxygen equipment or an AED. Attach the AED as soon as it arrives and follow its voice prompts.
Anyone involved in a drowning incident needs a medical assessment, even if they seem fine afterwards.
In the Salmon Holes case, paramedics told the inquest that resuscitation at this kind of site is often futile unless recovery from the water and resuscitation are prompt and competent before they arrive. That is a hard thing to read. It is also a reason to learn the skills well, and a reminder that good first aid and a good outcome are not always the same thing.
The call matters as much as the care
The finding records patchy mobile coverage at the site, and police and marine rescue radios that could not talk to each other, which made coordination difficult. The recommendations on towers, radio repeaters and communication plans respond to that.
Most of us cannot change the infrastructure. We can plan our own call.
A fictional scenario to talk through
A friend is washed off the rocks. You have one bar of signal. What is the first thing you say to the call taker? Practise giving the location, what happened and how many people are involved.
Practise it out loud with your group. It sounds simple, and it is surprisingly hard when adrenaline hits.
Remote places need remote thinking
Many fishing spots are far from an ambulance. Help may take a long time to arrive, so the people already there need to be able to do more for longer.
If you fish, camp or work in places like this, consider training that is built for remote settings. Our guide on remote first aid training explains what is different when help is far away.
Looking after yourselves afterwards
People who tried to help in this case were commended by the coroner. That recognition matters, because trying to help in a situation like this is frightening, and the outcome is often painful.
If you have been involved in an emergency like this, whatever happened, it is normal to feel shaken and to replay it. Our guide on looking after yourself after giving first aid explains what is common and when it is a good idea to see a GP.
Frequently asked questions
Should I jump in to save someone who has been washed off the rocks?
ANZCOR guidance is to only attempt a rescue if it is safe. Rescue from land or a craft is safest. Throw something that floats, call for help, and if entering the water is not safe, wait for rescue services. If you do enter the water, ANZCOR advises doing so only with some form of flotation.
Do I need rescue breaths if I am doing CPR on someone who has drowned?
Yes. In drowning the main problem is the interrupted oxygen supply, so ANZCOR guidance includes rescue breaths. Compression only CPR is strongly discouraged except as a temporary measure if you cannot give breaths.
Should I wait for an AED before starting CPR?
No. Start CPR straight away and attach the AED as soon as it arrives, then follow its prompts.
Does a life jacket guarantee someone will survive a fall into rough water?
No. In this case the coroner said a suitable life jacket would have increased survivability, and also that wearing one may not always save a life. It is one important layer among several.
Does this finding tell me what the law is for rock fishing in WA today?
No. It is from 2018 and records recommendations. Rules can change, so check the current requirements for where you fish before each trip.
Why are rescue breaths and training emphasised for drowning?
Drowning can progress quickly, and the skills of managing an airway and giving breaths are best learned hands-on, with feedback from a qualified trainer.
Sources and current guidance
Learn the skills. Build the confidence. Be ready to help.
REACHAU first aid training focuses on understanding what to do, why it matters and how to act when someone needs help.
View upcoming first aid sessions
Training and Assessment is delivered by Britt at Regional Education and Career Help Australia on behalf of ABC First Aid RTO 3399.
Related reading
This article shares learning points from a published coronial finding and current ANZCOR guidance. The finding is from 2018, and rules for rock fishing may have changed since then. It is general information, not a complete treatment guide or safety advice, and it does not replace hands-on training. In an emergency, call 000.
