The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter attended an accident off the North Coast where two fishermen were injured after a marlin jumped into their boat.
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Two brothers and another man from Sydney were in the Solitary Islands Marine Park, travelling in a five metre rigid hull inflatable that was doing about 40kph, when the marlin joined them.
The fish, which they estimated weighed between 80 and 100 kilograms, crashed into the brothers on board the vessel.
The marlin's sharp snout sliced open the younger brother's lower right arm, causing an open fracture.
The older brother suffered a deep cut to his right shoulder.
The third man, who was uninjured, contacted emergency services and navigated back to shore to waiting ambulances at the Wooli spit.
The man who was speared through his right shoulder told police striking the marlin was like "hitting a cow".
The marlin survived the freak incident and managed to thrash its way off the boat.
The Helicopter Critical Care Medical Team and ASNSW Paramedics treated both patients, and the younger brother was flown to Coffs Harbour Hospital.
The other injured man was taken by road to the same hospital.
Their injuries are not considered life threatening.
