A HAMILTON man in his 80s was rescued from a fishing boat in Portland on Thursday afternoon as part of a multi-agency rescue.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said the incident occurred in the early afternoon after the two occupants from Hamilton became stranded on the small fishing vessel near an unstable cliff area. 

“Emergency services were called to reports a boat had been pushed onto rocks just off Hanlon Parade following an issue with its engine about 2.30pm,” the spokesperson said.

“A police officer waded out to an 85-year-old Hamilton man, who was then winched off the rocks and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

“A 45-year-old Hamilton man who was also in the boat was not injured. 

“The incident is not being treated as suspicious.”

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said units were called to the water incident at around 1.40pm where the 85-year-old man was “taken by road ambulance to Portland Hospital in a stable condition”.

The multi-agency response reportedly consisted of Victoria Police, Country Fire Authority, the State Emergency Service, and Ambulance Victoria, including the use of their HEMS4 air ambulance from Warrnambool which was used to remove the older passenger.