Perth dad rescued after boat capsized near Rottnest

A father from Perth, Clayton Robinson, faced a terrifying experience when his boat began sinking near Rottnest Island. The 41-year-old was returning from a fishing trip late Friday when he noticed water flooding the boat. Realizing the danger, Robinson sent his location to a friend and grabbed safety equipment just before the boat capsized. He then activated his emergency beacon and launched a flare. His partner, Dani Gogan, posted a call for help on social media, reaching out to find him. While clinging to the upturned hull, Robinson fought to stay calm. He knew he would need energy to swim. He hoped a passing fisherman would see him and come to the rescue. Throughout the ordeal, he could hear helicopters flying overhead, making it difficult to stay visible in the dark waters. A sizable search and rescue operation took place, involving multiple emergency services. Searchers faced challenging conditions with high waves and strong winds. Police received reports of the distress call around 6 PM, and his emergency beacon was activated shortly after. After hours of searching, Robinson was spotted by police around 11 PM. Video footage showed him waiting on the nearly submerged hull of his boat. Authorities reminded the public about the importance of wearing life jackets and using registered emergency beacons while boating.