Latest news with #NewSouthWalesGameFishAssociation
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Search for fisherman who fell overboard 'suspended,' Australian police say
The search for a missing fisherman who fell overboard during a fishing competition on Sunday has been suspended, Australian police say. Emergency response services were informed that the man fell from his boat, Dark Horse, about 34 miles off the coast of Newcastle near Port Stephens in New South Wales around 1 p.m. local time. The search for the 58-year-old man, who police have yet to identify, continued through Tuesday evening, according to a New South Wales Police Force news release. Initial inquiries suggested the man had become entangled in fishing tackle before falling overboard, according to the news release. "Despite the efforts of searchers, the man has not yet been located, and the search was suspended at 5pm today and will not resume tomorrow (Wednesday 26 February 2025)," police said in the news release. A number of outlets, including CBS News, have reported that the man, identified as Paul Barning, was dragged by a shark that was entangled in fishing gear. But police have not been able to confirm that, Vanessa Bolas, New South Wales police spokesperson shared in a statement. The man's remains not have not been located and his cause of death would be a matter determined by the coroner, Bolas said. The New South Wales Game Fish Association issued a statement following the fisherman's disappearance, writing in a Sunday afternoon social media post that club had lost a "much loved" and "revered" member during the New South Wales Game Fishing Association Interclub tournament, an annual game fishing event in New South Wales. "Paul Barning, current secretary, past president and life member of Port Hacking game fishing club was a highly experienced game fisherman," the post read. "He was tragically lost at sea in the most unlikely of circumstances whilst fishing on his boat Dark Horse off Port Stephens on Sunday." The association went on to say that the reports circulating about Barning being attacked by a shark after he fell overboard were "fabricated and untrue news reporting." "Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Leonie, his son, Sam and daughters Eleanor and Brigette in this trying time," the association wrote. "We also have the crew and their families in our thoughts and prayers. To those participants of the tournament that assisted in the search efforts, we thank you. We will have resolution on the outcomes of the tournament in due course." The association wrote that his accident highlights the "risks involved in doing what we all love, game fishing." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Search 'suspended' for Australia fisherman who fell from boat: Police
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Tournament Angler Pulled Overboard by Giant Shark Remains Lost at Sea
Authorities in Australia are still searching for a 58-year-old man who was lost at sea while fishing in a tournament over the weekend. The man, an experienced and well-known angler named Paul Barning, was reportedly reeling in a shark when he got tangled in his line and pulled into the Pacific Ocean. Barning is now feared dead due to strong ocean currents and the fact that he wasn't wearing a life jacket. The incident took place Sunday around 1 p.m., according to The Guardian. Barning and three other anglers were competing in a fishing tournament hosted by the New South Wales Game Fish Association. They were roughly 30 miles offshore from Port Stephens and fishing aboard Barning's boat, Dark Horse, when the incident, which the NSWGFA called a 'devastating accident,' took place. Barning was a past president and the current secretary of the organization. New South Wales police superintendent Joe McNulty confirmed with reporters Monday that Barning was pulled overboard while battling a shark near the side of their boat. Although initial reports mentioned a great white shark, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that the big fish was more likely a mako. 'What we can confirm is the vessel had hooked up a shark in its fishing gear and they were trying to retrieve the shark, usually for a tag and release program,' McNulty said Monday. 'We believe the shark was quite large — the vessel was only [22-feet] in length itself so during that process of bringing the shark alongside, he [had] become entangled in the fishing line and the shark [had] taken off.' McNulty said there was no evidence that the shark attacked Barning while he was in the water. This false report was also corrected by NSWGFA president Steve Lamond, who started a GoFundMe page for the Barning family and said he has known Barning for 20 years. 'As most of you are now probably aware we lost a much loved and revered member of our community during the NSWGFA Interclub tournament,' Lamond said in a statement issued Monday, in which he offered condolences to Barning's family and thanked the other tournament anglers who helped with the initial search efforts. 'He was tragically lost at sea in the most unlikely of circumstances … Some reports you may have seen indicate he was attacked by a shark after falling overboard, this is fabricated and untrue news reporting.' McNulty told reporters that search efforts were hampered Monday by fast-moving currents. He said crews would resume those efforts Tuesday, searching a roughly 1,500-square-mile area of the Pacific. McNulty added that the ongoing search might not have been necessary had Barning been wearing a life jacket at the time. Read Next: Watch: Shark Drags Fisherman Overboard in Florida Everglades 'This devastating accident highlights the risks involved in doing what we all love, game fishing,' Lamond said. 'Please look out for each other and stay safe.'
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Australian fisherman missing after hooking shark, being pulled underwater
NEW SOUTH WALES, AU (WJW) — Authorities are searching Australian waters for a fisherman who fell overboard after hooking a shark during a fishing competition Sunday. According to a Monday press release from New South Wales (NSW) Police Force, the 58-year-old man, identified by the New South Wales Game Fish Association as Paul Barning, is believed to have become entangled in fishing tackle before falling overboard around 1:35 p.m. Fabric and craft retailer JOANN closing all stores across the US It happened as the crew was attempting to tag and release the shark, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. A multi-crewed search effort was launched, but it was suspended due to nightfall before resuming Monday morning, the police force said. According to 7 News Australia, during a Monday morning press conference, police said they believe Barning had hooked a large mako shark when he became entangled in the fishing line and pulled into the water. 'After the entanglement we believe the shark has submerged, pulling the man into that water,' the police superintendent said. Police described the shark as 'quite large,' and said they don't believe it attacked Barning in the water. Barning and other crew members were fishing from a boat that was 6.8 meters, or about 22 feet long. He was not wearing a life jacket, police said. The New South Wales Game Fish Association wrote on Facebook that Barning was a lifelong member of the Port Hacking game fishing club who served as the current secretary as well as a past-president. The post called Barning a 'highly experienced game fisherman.' Shooting at Lorain Public Library leaves 1 juvenile injured, 2 arrested 'He was tragically lost at sea in he most unlikely of circumstances,' the post said, before adding the incident highlights the risks associated with game fishing. The post also offered the group's condolences to Barning's wife and kids. The search for Barning will reportedly continue through Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
