Latest news with #MarineRescueNSW
Sky News AU
22-07-2025
- Sky News AU
Police reveal major update in desperate search for fisherman who disappeared off NSW coast following worrying discovery
The multi-agency search for a missing fisherman who failed to return from a weekend fishing trip has been suspended following a major discovery off the NSW coast. Geoff Buchanan, 56, disappeared along with his 8-metre Arvor cruiser vessel on Saturday, and police have been told he left Batesman Bay Marina about 6am that morning. Emergency services were called to the marina at around 8pm on Saturday night after receiving numerous reports a man had not returned to port. South Coast Police District officers, Marine Rescue NSW and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) have since assisted NSW Police's Marine Area Command in a major search operation to try and locate the fisherman. The search area has spanned from as far north as Port Stephens to the Victoria-NSW border in the south, according to police. NSW Police announced on Tuesday afternoon that the search for Mr Buchanan had been suspended, however, after his boat was found about 1.20pm off the South Coast without him on board. The empty vessel was located by AMSA's Challenger aircraft about 80 nautical miles east of Narooma, a police statement said. Fisherman from a commercial fishing boat nearby helped stop the located vessel in challenging conditions, and the cruiser will now be towed to shore. Marine Area Command patrols will continue in the coming days. Marine Rescue NSW dispatched a fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter to scout the area on Saturday night, with the overnight search continuing until 1am on Sunday. "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 had said. Dozens of local volunteers, six patrol boats, a light aircraft and Surf Life Saving NSW crews supported the search operation when it continued on Sunday morning. Large police rescue boats were spotted cruising the waters on Sunday afternoon, navigating migrating whales, while helicopters were also dispatched.
Perth Now
22-07-2025
- Perth Now
Rescue abandoned after grim discovery
An urgent search for missing fisherman Geoff Buchanan has been abandoned after his boat was discovered almost 150km out to sea unmanned and drifting aimlessly. Emergency services were called to Batemans Bay Marina about 8pm on Saturday after the 56-year-old Sussex Inlet man failed to return from a daylong fishing trip. About 1.20pm on Tuesday, Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Challenger aircraft found the fisherman's empty boat east of Narooma. Nearby commercial fishing boats assisted in stabilising the drifting cruiser amid choppy sea conditions. The vessel is being towed back to shore. Police were informed that Mr Buchanan had departed the marina about 6am aboard an eight-metre Arvor cruiser. He was last spoken to about 10am. When he didn't return as expected, concerns were raised and emergency services were notified about 7.20pm. Volunteers had been searching for Mr Buchanan since his disappearance. Marine Rescue NSW Credit: Supplied A search operation was launched by the Marine Area Command, with support from South Coast Police District officers, Marine Rescue NSW and AMSA. The search area was expanded significantly, stretching from Port Stephens in the north to the Victorian border in the south. NSW Police marine area command officer detective chief inspector Anthony Brazzill said Mr Buchanan suffered from diabetes and police had not ruled out the possibility he suffered a medical episode onboard. 'The gentleman does have health issues managing diabetes that we're extremely concerned about … we understand he had the medication,' Inspector Brazzill said. 'But if something did happen where he had an episode and couldn't get to his medication, that is our grave concern.' Mr Chaffey said Mr Buchanan had been planning to fish for tuna near the continental shelf and potentially stop for a dive on the way back on Saturday. '(Mr Buchanan) was very safety conscious,' he said. 'He always lets the marina know where he's going, when he's going.' A close friend of Mr Buchanan, and manager of the Batemans Bay d'Albora marina, Mitch Chaffey, told the ABC Mr Buchanan was a highly experienced waterman. 'Geoff's been around the water his whole life, very experienced in the water and on the water, fisherman, skin diver, who knows his way around a boat,' Mr Chaffey said.
News.com.au
22-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘No one was on board': Rescue abandoned after grim discovery
An urgent search for missing fisherman Geoff Buchanan has been abandoned after his boat was discovered almost 150km out to sea unmanned and drifting aimlessly. Emergency services were called to Batemans Bay Marina about 8pm on Saturday after the 56-year-old Sussex Inlet man failed to return from a daylong fishing trip. About 1.20pm on Tuesday, Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Challenger aircraft found the fisherman's empty boat east of Narooma. Nearby commercial fishing boats assisted in stabilising the drifting cruiser amid choppy sea conditions. The vessel is being towed back to shore. Police were informed that Mr Buchanan had departed the marina about 6am aboard an eight-metre Arvor cruiser. He was last spoken to about 10am. When he didn't return as expected, concerns were raised and emergency services were notified about 7.20pm. A search operation was launched by the Marine Area Command, with support from South Coast Police District officers, Marine Rescue NSW and AMSA. The search area was expanded significantly, stretching from Port Stephens in the north to the Victorian border in the south. NSW Police marine area command officer detective chief inspector Anthony Brazzill said Mr Buchanan suffered from diabetes and police had not ruled out the possibility he suffered a medical episode onboard. 'The gentleman does have health issues managing diabetes that we're extremely concerned about … we understand he had the medication,' Inspector Brazzill said. 'But if something did happen where he had an episode and couldn't get to his medication, that is our grave concern.' Mr Chaffey said Mr Buchanan had been planning to fish for tuna near the continental shelf and potentially stop for a dive on the way back on Saturday. '(Mr Buchanan) was very safety conscious,' he said. 'He always lets the marina know where he's going, when he's going.' A close friend of Mr Buchanan, and manager of the Batemans Bay d'Albora marina, Mitch Chaffey, told the ABC Mr Buchanan was a highly experienced waterman. 'Geoff's been around the water his whole life, very experienced in the water and on the water, fisherman, skin diver, who knows his way around a boat,' Mr Chaffey said.
The Advertiser
21-07-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Boats, aircraft resume search for missing fisherman
A search for a fisherman who's been missing in waters off Australia's east coast for nearly two days is resuming. The man, 56, failed to return after a day of fishing on Saturday. He had left Batemans Bay Marina on the NSW south coast about 6am in an eight-metre Arvor cruiser. Contact was made with the man about 10am but when he failed to return that night emergency services were called. The search by vessels, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, led by the Marine Area Command, continues on Monday. Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the crews from Narooma, Bermagui and Merimbula are determined to find the 56-year-old. There were almost 30 volunteers on the water across six vessels on Sunday, covering an area from Ulladulla to Merimbula and up to 22 kilometres seaward under the direction of police, Mr Massey said. A search for a fisherman who's been missing in waters off Australia's east coast for nearly two days is resuming. The man, 56, failed to return after a day of fishing on Saturday. He had left Batemans Bay Marina on the NSW south coast about 6am in an eight-metre Arvor cruiser. Contact was made with the man about 10am but when he failed to return that night emergency services were called. The search by vessels, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, led by the Marine Area Command, continues on Monday. Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the crews from Narooma, Bermagui and Merimbula are determined to find the 56-year-old. There were almost 30 volunteers on the water across six vessels on Sunday, covering an area from Ulladulla to Merimbula and up to 22 kilometres seaward under the direction of police, Mr Massey said. A search for a fisherman who's been missing in waters off Australia's east coast for nearly two days is resuming. The man, 56, failed to return after a day of fishing on Saturday. He had left Batemans Bay Marina on the NSW south coast about 6am in an eight-metre Arvor cruiser. Contact was made with the man about 10am but when he failed to return that night emergency services were called. The search by vessels, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, led by the Marine Area Command, continues on Monday. Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the crews from Narooma, Bermagui and Merimbula are determined to find the 56-year-old. There were almost 30 volunteers on the water across six vessels on Sunday, covering an area from Ulladulla to Merimbula and up to 22 kilometres seaward under the direction of police, Mr Massey said. A search for a fisherman who's been missing in waters off Australia's east coast for nearly two days is resuming. The man, 56, failed to return after a day of fishing on Saturday. He had left Batemans Bay Marina on the NSW south coast about 6am in an eight-metre Arvor cruiser. Contact was made with the man about 10am but when he failed to return that night emergency services were called. The search by vessels, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, led by the Marine Area Command, continues on Monday. Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the crews from Narooma, Bermagui and Merimbula are determined to find the 56-year-old. There were almost 30 volunteers on the water across six vessels on Sunday, covering an area from Ulladulla to Merimbula and up to 22 kilometres seaward under the direction of police, Mr Massey said.
Perth Now
20-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Boats, aircraft resume search for missing fisherman
A search for a fisherman who's been missing in waters off Australia's east coast for nearly two days is resuming. The man, 56, failed to return after a day of fishing on Saturday. He had left Batemans Bay Marina on the NSW south coast about 6am in an eight-metre Arvor cruiser. Contact was made with the man about 10am but when he failed to return that night emergency services were called. The search by vessels, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, led by the Marine Area Command, continues on Monday. Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the crews from Narooma, Bermagui and Merimbula are determined to find the 56-year-old. "All of our dedicated volunteers are tired but ready to continue ... they are an incredible group of committed people," he said. There were almost 30 volunteers on the water across six vessels on Sunday, covering an area from Ulladulla to Merimbula and up to 22 kilometres seaward under the direction of police, Mr Massey said.
