HANGING ON TO HOPE
Loved ones’ need for answers in doctor’s disappearance at sea
LOVED ones are praying for a miracle and answers in the disappearance of Tolga father-of-two and Atherton doctor, Richard Thomas.
They have been left devastated after his boat (right) was found adrift with no sign of him on Tuesday.
A decision on whether to continue searching will be made today.
FRIENDS and family of a missing Tablelands boatie are hoping for a miracle as the search off Innisfail ended its third day at sunset yesterday.
The 55-year-old has been identified as Tolga father-oftwo Dr Richard Thomas, an anaesthetist who worked at Atherton Hospital.
His devastated wife and children were too upset to speak to the Cairns Post yesterday and were being supported by family and friends.
His friend Robert Waters said he was hanging on to the hope the cyclist would be found.
“We are hoping for the best, and miracles do happen,” he said.
“He was a super guy and he is going to be a big loss to the community.
“It’s an unknown as to how and why.
“There are 100 questions. We will wait to see what happened in the coming days until they call off the search.”
A long standing customer of Mr Waters’ Northern Bikes store, he said Dr Thomas was a committed family man and enthusiastic mountain bike rider.
“As a human being, he was always a really nice customer, always really nice to deal with and we always had a really nice chinwag when he came in,” Mr Waters said.
“If he is not found he will be missed by us as a person.”
Dr Thomas has not been seen since Tuesday morning when he left home with plans to head out to the Reef from Mourilyan Harbour.
Grave fears are held for his safety.
His empty boat was found floating at the mouth of the Johnstone River, a well-known crocodile and shark habitat, by two members of the Coconuts Outrigger Canoe Club on Tuesday.
A air and sea search of 250 sq nm yesterday failed to find any trace of Dr Thomas, despite police describing conditions on the water as “perfect”.
Innisfail police Det SenConstable Mat Mattock said there remained no suggestion Dr Thomas’ disappearance was suspicious and police were continuing to investigate while supporting the family.
“Obviously this is a really difficult time for them,” he said.
Police have obtained CCTV as part of their investigation including footage from the boat ramp.
A Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said the service was providing support for Dr Thomas’s worried colleagues.
“We will not be disclosing any further details at this time out of respect for his family’s privacy,” she said.
“We are providing support to our staff at this difficult time.”
It’s understood a decision will be made today about whether to continue the search.