he 47-year-old man was one of five people on board the 4.9-metre Shark Cat when it overturned off Maloneys Beach near Batemans Bay just before 2pm (AEST) on Saturday.
The search resumed at daybreak on Sunday but it was suspended at 11am (AEDT) when visibility, wind and ocean conditions made it dangerous to continue. The decision will be reviewed this afternoon.
Grave fears are held for the missing man, who was not wearing a life jacket when the accident occurred in an area known as Yellow Rock.
NSW Ports Minister Duncan Gay said he had been advised none of the occupants on the Shark Cat were wearing lifejackets.
"The challenge is to make people understand accidents can and do happen, and it's essential to wear a lifejacket as a precaution, because when trouble strikes it's generally too late to try and put it on," he said.
"A lifejacket will not save your life unless you wear it. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of those involved."
Volunteers set out in terrible conditions this morning, facing swells of up to five metres. With the risk to rescuers increasing, the search has been called off, save for the divers.
Grave fears are held for the missing man, who was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
A spokesman for the Westpac rescue helicopter said yesterday the man's chances of survival were limited because of the very cold water.
Stephen Leahy, from the Westpac rescue helicopter, says today's search, which covers an area of around 10 square kilometres, was initially delayed by bad weather.
"There's some very strong winds gusting up to around 40 knots, very heavy showers [and] low cloud, so today will be a very difficult search," he said.
"There was some extensive planning done overnight by police and other emergency services as to the search area. That search area has extended quite dramatically overnight, from the mouth of the Clyde River to a large area out to sea."
The speedboat has been taken to a holding yard for examination, and the cause of the accident is still unclear.
Yesterday, Mr Leahy said the boat capsized just off Hanging Rock.
"All those people have been thrown into the water. Sadly three people have died in that accident," he said.
The ocean was choppy yesterday but there did not appear to be a large swell.
The search resumed at daybreak on Sunday but it was suspended at 11am (AEDT) when visibility, wind and ocean conditions made it dangerous to continue. The decision will be reviewed this afternoon.
Grave fears are held for the missing man, who was not wearing a life jacket when the accident occurred in an area known as Yellow Rock.
NSW Ports Minister Duncan Gay said he had been advised none of the occupants on the Shark Cat were wearing lifejackets.
"The challenge is to make people understand accidents can and do happen, and it's essential to wear a lifejacket as a precaution, because when trouble strikes it's generally too late to try and put it on," he said.
"A lifejacket will not save your life unless you wear it. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of those involved."
Volunteers set out in terrible conditions this morning, facing swells of up to five metres. With the risk to rescuers increasing, the search has been called off, save for the divers.
Grave fears are held for the missing man, who was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
A spokesman for the Westpac rescue helicopter said yesterday the man's chances of survival were limited because of the very cold water.
Stephen Leahy, from the Westpac rescue helicopter, says today's search, which covers an area of around 10 square kilometres, was initially delayed by bad weather.
"There's some very strong winds gusting up to around 40 knots, very heavy showers [and] low cloud, so today will be a very difficult search," he said.
"There was some extensive planning done overnight by police and other emergency services as to the search area. That search area has extended quite dramatically overnight, from the mouth of the Clyde River to a large area out to sea."
The speedboat has been taken to a holding yard for examination, and the cause of the accident is still unclear.
Yesterday, Mr Leahy said the boat capsized just off Hanging Rock.
"All those people have been thrown into the water. Sadly three people have died in that accident," he said.
The ocean was choppy yesterday but there did not appear to be a large swell.
No comments:
Post a Comment