QLD: Search for missing fisherman to resume at dawn

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2009
QLD: Search for missing fisherman to resume at dawn

BRISBANE, April 6 AAP - An air and sea search for a man missing after a boating accident
in southeast Queensland will resume at daybreak on Monday, after rough weather forced
it to be called off.

Two men, both aged 38, left for a fishing trip on Saturday and failed to return.

The body of one of the men was recovered washed up at Moreton Island at 5.15pm (AEST)
on Sunday, but the search for his companion was hampered by poor conditions.

Police said four vessels and three helicopters would swing into action when the search
got underway again at first light on Monday.

"They are going to resume the search at first light," a police spokesman said.

"They do have grave concerns for the man's safety."

The search for the pair was sparked about 10.25am (AEST) on Sunday after their six-metre
runabout was spotted by chance from the air, run aground on rocks near North Point, west
of Cape Moreton.

A rescue helicopter found the dead man, from Morayfield near Caloundra, about 5.15pm
(AEST), washed up on the beach on the northern end of the island.

Search and rescue crews continued to comb the coast off Cape Moreton and north to Flinders
Reef for the remaining man, from Scarborough in Brisbane, but the search was suspended
late on Sunday due to rough weather and poor visibility.

The police spokesman said it was not known how the accident happened.

"That will be part of the ongoing police investigation into it," the spokesman said.

"The initial concern is to try and find the other man."

A spokesman from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said no distress beacon had
been set off.

AAP kd/rs

KEYWORD: SEARCH

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