Woman dies after two boats collide near an exclusive island hamlet as paramedics were winched down by helicopter to try and save her

  • Woman has died after two small boats collided off Sydney's Pittwater area
  • A man who suffered serious head injuries in the crash was rushed to hospital 
  • He who also suffered injuries to his legs is in a serious but stable condition
  • Paramedics had to be winched down to a remote jetty in pitch black conditions

By DAVID SOUTHWELL and SAM MCPHEE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

A woman has died after two boats collided in Sydney's Pittwater area, while a man was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries.

Paramedics had to be winched down by helicopter in pitch black to a remote jetty after the small runabouts crashed near Elvina Bay on Pittwater at about 7pm on Sunday - opposite the exclusive Scotland Island.

The woman was found unconscious and despite the desperate efforts of emergency responders to revive her, she died at the scene.

Police say they believe the woman was a 20-year-old from Germany. Police confirmed two vessels were involved in the crash, but it's not known whether the young woman and man were on the same boat.

A woman has died after two small boats collided on Pittwater while a man has suffered serious head injuries

A woman has died after two small boats collided on Pittwater while a man has suffered serious head injuries

Two NSW air ambulances responded to the accident, with witnesses saying they heard a bang and then cries for help from the water

Two NSW air ambulances responded to the accident, with witnesses saying they heard a bang and then cries for help from the water

The man, who was in his 20s, was treated at the scene for serious head injuries and then taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where he is reported to be in a serious but stable condition.

Witnesses reported hearing a bang and cries for help from the water. 

NSW Police Commander of the Marine Area Command Detective Superintendent Murray Reynolds said they have seized two boats in relation to the incident.

'The investigation remains ongoing but there's evidence the vessels came into collision with each other,' he told reporters on Monday morning.

'We're yet to understand exactly what happened but potentially the vessels were going in opposite directions.

'There were two people involved in the collision, one a deceased 20-year-old believed to be a German national. The other a 19-year-old who had been airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital.' 

Det Insp Murray said the area where the crash occurred was 'extremely dark' at 7pm when the crash occurred. 

'It's a tragedy, it's a horrific set of circumstances,' he added. 

Christine Marks from NSW Ambulance said emergency services had scrambled to attend the isolated scene, located off Ku-Ring Gai National Park. 

'This was a major mobilisation of emergency services in very difficult circumstances — pitch black, across cold water, in a very inaccessible location,' she said.

'Our aeromedical team did really well accessing the patient under the circumstances. 

Paramedics had to be winched down by helicopter in pitch black to a remote jetty after the small runabouts crashed near Elvina Bay on Pittwater at about 7pm on Sunday - opposite the exclusive Scotland Island (pictured)

Paramedics had to be winched down by helicopter in pitch black to a remote jetty after the small runabouts crashed near Elvina Bay on Pittwater at about 7pm on Sunday - opposite the exclusive Scotland Island (pictured) 

'(The man) suffered multiple cuts and bruises to his face and legs for which paramedics provided pain management.

'I'm sorry that there's been such a tragic outcome in this case.'

Two ambulance helicopters, four ambulances and water police responded to the accident. 

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Sydney

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