Two children escaped uninjured after being thrown from their inflatable boat near the Fairmont Hamilton Princess at the weekend.

The boy and girl went overboard after their vessel hit a wave at about 10.45 a.m. on Saturday. Dan Jacobs, organiser of the Sea Horse Anglers? Club Bill Fish Tournament, which took place over the weekend, was watching the harbour from the hotel.

He told that he saw the children coming across the harbour in a small boat before they were thrown overboard. ?Their boat continued at full throttle and was going full circle around them,? he said, adding that he thought the boat had run over the boy.

?A boat came by and gave them assistance. I was just screaming out of the window to the boat to help them. I called the authorities immediately and requested assistance. They looked like small children to me, maybe aged eight to ten. They had life jackets on. It happened very quickly and nobody was hurt.?

Police spokesman Robin Simmons said marine police attended but found the children unharmed. ?When they were leaving the dock they hit a wave and the inflatable overturned.

?From our point of view, everything was a-okay by the time marine police got there. The male and female were shaken but unhurt.?

The accident involving the children was the start of a dramatic day for Mr. Jacobs. Soon after they were rescued he received a radio message to say that Ian Card, the mate onboard fishing vessel Challenger, which was taking part in the sport fishing contest, had been speared by a blue marlin in a freak accident.

?It was one of the worst days I have ever had in running tournaments,? he said. ?It was a very sobering day. It puts everything into perspective.?