Friday, March 13: NSW Police said the formal search for the missing man was suspended. All volunteer search and rescue agencies were stood down.
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9am, Thursday, March 12: The search continued for a 32-year-old man, after a fatal boating accident on the Narooma bar on Tuesday morning.
Marine Rescue Regional Operations Manager Glenn Sullivan said vessels were searching for the man again today with Maritime and water police.
A Bermagui Marine Rescue vessel had been retasked this morning to provide assistance to a broken-down vessel at Montague Island, but once it returned to the harbour, it would rejoin the search.
Crews are searching the bar and surrounding coastal areas aswell.
In a dangerous week for boaters on the Far South Coast, another boat sank at Eden on Wednesday with two elderly men clambering on to nearby rocks.
Another boat overturned at the Merimbula bar.
There is a strong wind warning today, Thursday, March 12, for the Batemans and Eden coasts.
On Wednesday afternoon, Marine Rescue NSW said the search for the boater had "unfortunately not resulted in any sign of the missing 32-year-old man".
"Marine Rescue Tuross, Marine Rescue Narooma and Marine Rescue Batemans Bay spent (Wednesday) searching inshore on Wagonga Lake and the river system," Marine Rescue NSW said.
"Vessels from Marine Rescue Narooma and Marine Rescue Bermagui continued to search around the bar and offshore with support from NSW Maritime and the Westpac Life Saver Rescue HelicopterLifesaver 23 helicopter.
"Surf Life Saving personnel also searched the bar and surrounding area."
4pm, Wednesday, March 11: Mr Sullivan said the search area designated has been completed, and rescue helicopter Lifesaver 23 was back on scene for an aerial search.
11am: Marine Rescue said conditions were calmer today during the search for the missing boater. Crews were focusing the search offshore from the Narooma bar and the water of the Wagonga Inlet.
8am: Police said two men launched their boat at Apex Park boat ramp, Narooma, before it capsized navigating the Narooma Bar just after 6.15am on Tuesday, March 10.
"One of the men, a 75-year-old, was retrieved from the water and members of the public performed CPR on him before emergency services arrived," Police said, on March 11.
"Despite their efforts, the man died at the scene.
"Officers attached to the Marine Area Command commenced a search for a 32-year-old man.
"The search is continuing, assisted by officers from South Coast Police District, Marine Rescue, Westpac helicopter and Surf Lifesaving Australia."
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Surf Life Saving NSW said the missing 32-year-old man was believed to be a Narooma resident and the body recovered yesterday "was believed to be that of a 60-year-old Narooma resident".
Surf Life Saving NSW Duty Officer, Ben Bate, said that conditions in Narooma at the time of the incident were very rough.
"There was a large swell - at least two-to-three metres. It was very sizeable. It would also have been very dark at 6am, when the incident occurred," Mr Bate said.
"It's believed that both men were wearing manually inflatable life jackets at the time of the incident but that the jackets may not have been inflated.
"Surf Life Saving NSW has been asked to provide multiple search and rescues assets to assist with (today's) search including: two Jetskis (RWCs); an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) and a Westpac Life Saver Rescue Drone (UAV)."
Surf Life Saving said there had been 31 coastal drownings since July 1, 2019; 18 of these had occurred over the summer period, since December 2019.
Beach safety messages: Surf Life Saving
- Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags, for your nearest patrolled beach check the BeachSafe app or website
- Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information
- Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other, and always supervise children around the water
- Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm
- In an emergency, dial Triple Zero Police
- For information about patrol times, weather, and beach locations visit the Beachsafe Website or Download the App.