Desperate search for missing fisherman on NSW South Coast rages on, as police pledge to do everything in their power to locate man
Emergency services were called to Batemans Bay Marina at around 8pm on Saturday night after receiving numerous reports a 53-year-old man had not returned to port after a day of fishing.
NSW Police said in a statement that the man was last seen when he departed the marina at 6am on Saturday morning.
The man left for his journey in an 8-metre Arvor Cruiser, and last made radio contact with officials at 10am, however alarm bells began to ring when the man failed to report back to the marina at sundown.
Police said that a 'multi-agency search' had since commenced to locate the man.
Authorities pooled resources in an attempt to find the man late Saturday night, with Marine Area Command and Marine Rescue NSW dispatching a fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter to scout the area.
The search persisted until 1am on Sunday, yet the man and his vessel could not be located.
"The Marine Rescue Batemans Bay and Bermagui crews said sea conditions were favourable last night, but it was quite dark with little assistance from the moon, and they had to navigate around numerous whales," Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said.
The search operation resumed early on Sunday morning, with dozens of local volunteers, six patrol boats, a light aircraft and Surf Life Saving NSW crews sent out to spearhead the effort.
Large police rescue boats were also seen cruising the waters on Sunday afternoon, navigating migrating whales, while helicopters were dispatched to comb the vast surrounding area.
The combined operation includes Marina Area Command, the South Coast Police District, Marine Rescue NSW and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Inspector Massey said that ocean conditions were favourable on Sunday and added that visibility was also good, giving volunteers welcome assistance in their attempts to locate the lost fisherman.
"They are searching an area offshore from just north of Narooma to south of Bermagui under the direction of Marine Area Command and will continue to do so until otherwise instructed," he said.
Authorities are pleading for anyone with information pertaining to the man's whereabouts to come forward and immediately contact Crime Stoppers.
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