DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
MSPA 137/09
Friday, 24 April 2009
ASHMORE REEF RECOVERY SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
At around 8:15 am (AEDT) Thursday 16 April 2009 there was an explosion on board a
foreign vessel that was intercepted the previous day in the vicinity of Ashmore Reef.
The events surrounding the incident occurred in the following order:
An explosion occurred on board the intercepted vessel at 8:15 am (AEDT).
9 ADF personnel were on board the intercepted vessel at the time of the explosion.
HMAS Childers and HMAS Albany recovered all survivors from the water within
about 15 minutes. The search continued.
Multiple casualties resulted from the explosion with three people deceased and two
people reported missing.
All ADF personnel were accounted for.
Medical assistance was rendered by ADF personnel via triage to casualties.
5 ADF personnel presented with minor injuries and were administered first aid.
Headquarters Northern Command (HQNORCOM) arranged Casualty Evacuation
supported by the Northern Territory and West Australian State and Commonwealth
agencies.
Air Force AP-3C Orions and Customs and Border Protection DASH 8 aircraft
conducted a Search and Rescue operation for the two missing persons under the
control of AMSA (Rescue Coordination Centre).
The Patrol Boats proceeded to FPSO Front Puffin for casualty evacuation.
AP-3C Orions conducted a box-drop of additional medical supplies to the Patrol
Boats.
A Medical Triage facility was established at Truscott and on the Front Puffin.
HMAS Childers and HMAS Albany transferred the high priority casualties to Front
Puffin for triage and evacuation.
HMAS Childers remained alongside Front Puffin until all casualties had been
evacuated. HMAS Albany departed after disembarking her high priority casualties for
high speed transit to Darwin.
The high priority casualties were transferred from Front Puffin to Truscott by CSC
helicopter.
At Truscott the casualties were again triaged and flown to specialist facilities in
Darwin, Broome, Perth or Brisbane hospitals for medical assistance.
Upon arrival in Darwin HMAS Albany was met by paramedical staff and other
government agency staff to assist the casualty reception on 17 April 2009 at 1.30 pm
(AEDT).
HMAS Childers arrived in Darwin on 17 April 2009 at 4.30 pm (AEDT).
The chronology of events described above embodies acts of bravery, courage and
professionalism by all personnel involved. It also embodies outstanding cooperation between
the ADF, State and Commonwealth Agencies. It was a team effort.
Media note: 24 photographs have been cleared by the NT Police and the Coroner, and are available for
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
