12.51 pm – 14 December (advice from NSW Police)
The search for a man who went missing in waters off the Far South Coast, has been suspended.
About 3.15pm on Tuesday (12 December 2023), emergency services were called to Haywards Beach, near Tilba Road, Bermagui, following reports a boat had washed ashore.
Officers from the South Coast Police District responded and commenced an extensive search of the water and surrounding area, with assistance from Marine Area Command, Surf Life Savers, State Emergency Services and the Westpac Helicopter.
Despite an extensive search of the water and surrounding land, the 60-year-old man from Victoria was not located, and the search was suspended at 1pm today (Thursday 14 December).
As inquiries continue, anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
2:30pm – 13 December 2023
Marine Rescue NSW vessels Bermagui 30 and Narooma 30 have returned to base after volunteer crews conducted more than five hours of searching for a boater believed missing on the South Coast after an unmanned boat washed up at Haywards Beach yesterday afternoon.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan said both Marine Rescue NSW vessels completed multiple legs of a parallel line search between Camel Rock and Bermagui Harbour before being stood down for the day.
“Both crews completed thorough search patterns pushing further seaward after each leg.
“Our volunteers from the Narooma and Bermagui units have displayed total commitment on the water looking for any signs of a missing person.
“Narooma 30 began returning to base at 1:40pm while the crew on board Bermagui 30 completed another sweep of the southern end of the search area before being untasked for the day.
“A volunteer crew will back on board Bermagui 30 tomorrow to resume searching in a revised area.
“Our vessel crews and radio operators from both Marine Rescue Bermagui and Narooma worked seamlessly again today not only with each other but with the entire multi-agency response led by NSW Police Marine Area Command,” Inspector Sullivan said.
10:00am – 13 December 2023
Volunteers from Marine Rescue Bermagui and Narooma this morning resumed the multi-agency search for a boater believed to be missing after an unmanned vessel washed up at Haywards Beach on the South Coast yesterday afternoon.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan said rescue vessels Narooma 30 and Bermagui 30 were back on the water conducting a parallel line search at 8:30am.
“The area of focus is similar to yesterday, between Bermagui Harbour, on Haywards Beach and up to Camel Rock in behind the breakers,” he said.
Inspector Sullivan said a member of NSW Water Police is on board Marine Rescue NSW vessel Bermagui 30.
“It (the search) is coordinated by NSW Water Police, they actually have one of their coordinators on board BG 30 to provide direction and provide assistance if anything is located.
“Conditions currently are favorable, it is forecast to blow up (the wind) so we will continue to search for as long as we can until the conditions change or Marine Rescue is stood down by NSW Police,” Inspector Sullivan said.
Marine Rescue NSW radio operators from Narooma and Bermagui are providing communications assistance for the search.
11pm – 12 Decmber 2023
Volunteers from Marine Rescue NSW Bermagui and Narooma will resume the multi-agency search for a boater believed missing on the South Coast at 8:30am tomorrow morning (Wednesday 13 December).
Marine Rescue NSW vessels Bermagui 30 and Narooma 30 were tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to search Horseshoe Bay after an unmanned vessel washed up at Haywards Beach this afternoon.
Volunteer crews on board both Marine Rescue NSW vessels conducted multiple parallel line searches from Camel Rock south to Bermagui Harbour from around 3:45pm.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan said Narooma 30 was stood down just before 6pm while Bermagui 30 spent a further hour on-water before returning to base at 7pm.
“Visibility and conditions were reasonably good for our volunteer crews who responded swiftly after being requested by Marine Area Command to assist the search.
“Volunteers from the Marine Rescue Narooma and Bermagui units will be back on-water at 8:30am tomorrow morning.
“Narooma 30 and Bermagui 30 will rendezvous off Haywards Beach with the search area to be determined by Marine Area Command in the morning,” Inspector Sullivan said.
3:45pm – 12 December 2023
Volunteers from Marine Rescue Narooma and Bermagui have been tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to assist with a multi-agency search for a person believed missing off Haywards Beach near Bermagui.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Glenn Sullivan said Marine Rescue NSW crews were deployed after a vessel washed up at Haywards Beach this afternoon.
“Marine Rescue NSW vessels Narooma 30 and Bermagui 30 began searching around 3:45pm today.
“Both vessels are conducting a parallel line search from Camel Rock down towards Bermagui Harbour.
“Crews on board Narooma 30 and Bermagui 30 began searching behind the breakers and are pushing seaward.
“Visibility is good on the water and our crews will continue searching until instructed otherwise by Marine Area Command,” Inspector Sullivan 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.
