Update -Thursday, 16 January 2025 01:22: pm – From NSW Police
A body has been found during the search for a missing boater on the Murray River in the state’s south.
About 7.30pm on Tuesday 14 January 2025, officers from Murray River Police District and officers from Victoria Police responded to reports a 23-year-old man disappeared after falling from a boat near Five Mile boat ramp, Moama.
A multi-agency search commenced involving Murray River Police District, Victoria Police and Marine Rescue NSW but was suspended about 8.45pm due to poor visibility.
About 8.30am yesterday (Wednesday 15 January 2025), the search resumed with officers attached to Murray River Police District, Victoria Police, police divers from NSW and Victoria Police, Marine Area Command, NSW Marine Rescue NSW and SES and continued until 7.30pm yesterday; however there was no sign of the man.
About 7am today (Thursday 16 January 2025) the multi-agency search resumed, with VRA joining the search.
About 9.45am, the body of a man was located south of the Five Mile boat ramp by Victoria Police divers.
The body is yet to be formally identified, but is believed to be that of the missing 23-year-old male.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Update – Wednesday 15/01 7.09 pm – Marine Rescue Moama crews to continue search for missing boater near Five Mile boat ramp tomorrow
Two Marine Rescue NSW vessels and almost a dozen volunteers from Marine Rescue Moama will tomorrow continue the search for a missing male boater last seen on the Murray River near Five Mile boat ramp just before 7:30pm Tuesday 14 January.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said volunteers from the Moama unit were stood down for the day at 6:15pm Wednesday.
Our crew resumed the search at 7am on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Moama 20before switching craft and using a six-metre flat bottom punt rescue vessel X 20 to assist Victoria Police divers.
“X 20 provided a solid platform for Victoria Police divers with all their equipment to search the waterway and will do so again tomorrow.
“Both Moama 20 and X 20 will resume the search at 8am tomorrow (Thursday 16 January) while the Marine Rescue Moama base is being used a command post by police.
“Boaters are being reminded that a section of the river will be closed while divers are in the water,” Inspector Massey said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
Update – Wednesday 15/01 11.40 am – Marine Rescue Moama crew continues search for missing male boater
Volunteers from Marine Rescue Moama resumed the multi-agency search for a missing male boater on the Murray River near Moama this morning.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said volunteers were back on water at 7am.
“After searching for almost two hours last night, our volunteers are continuing the search on board Moama 20.
“They have been searching a stretch of the Murray River around Five Mile boat ramp and will continue to do so until instructed otherwise by NSW Police Marine Area Command,” Inspector Massey said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
Tuesday 14/01 10.44 am – Marine Rescue NSW crew searches for missing boater at Moama
Volunteers from Marine Rescue Moama spent 1 hour and 45 minutes searching a section of the Murray River for a missing male boater this evening (Tuesday 14 January).
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the Service was alerted just after 7:30pm that a man from a boat was last seen on the Murray River near Five Mile boat ramp at Moama.
“A volunteer crew was quickly assembled and Marine Rescue NSW vessel Moama 20 deployed.
“Moama 20 conducted numerous sweeps of the area under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command.
“The Marine Rescue NSW crew was stood down for the night at 9:45pm.
“Volunteers and vessels from Marine Rescue Moama will be back on water to continue the search at 8am tomorrow (Wednesday 15 January),” Inspector Massey said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
