JD Maher, Billy Ware and Chris Totten are names you may not be familiar with… but a Lake Macquarie mother says she hopes you’ll throw a line to them.

The trio was among the first to spring into action when a boat collided with a buoy and capsized near Swansea at the weekend. 

Twenty-three-year-old Luke Smith remains missing.

The force of the collision tossed its occupants into the water, which is where the 16-year-old mates found them. 

At the time, they were fishing on their boat nearby. 

The teens raced over to the scene and assisted by pulling some of the men out of the water and onto their vessel. 

Their actions are being hailed as heroic. 

For one Lake Macquarie mother “Renay”, the teenagers’ bravery is to be commended. 

She’s taken to social media asking the community to join her in offering a practical thanks. 

And, she has set up a tab at Swansea-based business New Age Fishing. 

At the time of writing, the store confirmed the total of the fundraising effort has surpassed $400. 

Business owner and keen fisherman Brent has, together with his team, been kept busy collating the names of community members wishing to pass on their thanks and throw in a few dollars to thank the trio of teen rescuers.

For Renay, it’s the least we can do.

“JD and his mates..were some of the first on scene [at] the terrible boating accident and bravely pulled two young men out of the water and ensured the third had made it to land,” reads her post. 

“As a community member and parent of boys around the same age, I’m just so proud of these young men and as a community thought it’d be a good gesture to get behind them and show them our thanks, not that these boys were in any way focused on reward when they jumped into action. 

“I thought it might be a good gesture to start a bit of a tab down at the local bait and tackle shop. 

“Knowing JD’s a mad fisherman I thought it might be nice to give back to them in the form of something they love and due to them being on the water that night has in turn saved three lives. 

“I’ve popped into New Age Fishing, bait and tackle in the main street of Swansea, next to Dominos and asked if this is doable and they are happy to start a tab for anything in store for the boys. 

“I’ve kicked it off with $50, not a huge amount but should cover their bait costs for a while. 

“In all seriousness often the youth of today get a bit of a bad wrap, that they are selfish and immature, the actions of these three young men that night were anything but and I’m proud we have young men like this in our community. 

“If you can spare a few bucks and would like to show your appreciation please pop in to New Age Fishing and leave what you can.” 

For more on this topic:

• We won’t give up says family of Luke Smith
• The search continues for Luke Smith
• Search resumes for missing man after boat capsizes at Swansea

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