A 65-year-old man docking his boat in Appletree Bay, Mount Colah, has fallen from the vessel and was injured when he hit his head on a stone wall.

The man was knocked unconscious from the impact and fell into the water where his lifejacket kept him afloat.

Bystanders retrieved the man from the water and performed CPR while they waited for emergency services to arrive.

CareFlight’s Rapid Response Helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance at 2:30pm and landed at the boat ramp where NSW Ambulance paramedics and NSW Police were also arriving on scene.

CareFlight’s specialist doctor and NSW Ambulance critical care paramedic performed a clinical assessment on the man after the near-drowning incident and conducted an ultrasound to assess his condition. They provided critical care support and treated his head and chest injuries.

The man was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition under ongoing observation from CareFlight’s clinical team.