Visiting Boater Rescues Exhausted Wallaby Swimming More Than 100 Metres Off Portland Coast

A visiting boater in south-west Victoria rescued an exhausted wallaby that was spotted swimming out to sea more than 100 metres offshore, according to a report published by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on October 30, 2026.

Matt Smith, a boater visiting the area on a yacht, reported spotting the distressed animal near the Portland marina on a Friday morning after hearing seagulls squawking. Mr Smith rowed out in a dinghy to reach the wallaby, noting that the animal was quickly tiring and heading into deeper water. He stated that the wallaby likely would not have survived much longer had he not intervened.

Rescue Details and Wildlife Handover

• Location: Near the Portland marina, south-west Victoria.
• Incident Timing: Friday morning.
• Action Taken: Mr Smith rowed a dinghy to the animal, which initially jumped back into the water after a first attempt to get it on board, before eventually being brought to dry land.
• Outcome: The wallaby was safely transferred to the care of local wildlife carers who collected it from the marina.

Context on Swimming Marsupials

According to the ABC report, kangaroos and wallabies are known to swim on occasion, particularly when fleeing from predators such as dogs or dingoes. Mr Smith mentioned hearing of similar animal behavior and noted a separate incident in Port Lincoln involving a kangaroo approximately two weeks prior. Following the rescue, Mr Smith has been praised on social media and urged beachgoers to keep their dogs on leashes.