FEARS FOR FIVE LOST AT SEA

Family prays for miracle after empty boat found

THE relatives of a family of five lost at sea in the Torres Strait are praying for a miracle.

There are fears for the lives of the two men, two women and a nine-year-old boy, after their sevenmetre vessel was found empty and adrift. They had left Seisia, Cape York, and been on their way to Dauan Island on Wednesday but never arrived.

FAMILY of a group, including a young boy, missing in rough seas in the Torres Strait are hoping for a miracle after their empty boat was found adrift.

The boat contained a 22year-old man, 44-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 21year-old woman and a 9-yearold boy, all from Dauan Island, who were en route from Seisia at the tip of Cape York, to Dauan Island in the northwest Torres Strait on Wednesday, but their 7m vessel failed to arrive.

Police launched a major search after family reported them missing and the empty boat was located several kilometres off Dauan Island late on Thursday.

The search went on throughout yesterday.

Dauan Island community leader Jeff Gaidan, who was in WA yesterday, confirmed the missing family was his relatives.

He said it was a very distressing time for the family.

“We are praying for a good outcome,” he said.

A police spokesman confirmed the last contact the group had with family was as they travelled past Badu Island about 3pm on Wednesday.

They were not heard from again. It is understood the group were all members of the same family.

The large-scale search involved several police vessels and fixed wing aircraft. Bad weather, including 55km/h winds, hampered the search.

The police spokesman confirmed the fibreglass vessel was spotted by an aircraft floating between 3-5km west of Dauan Island late on Thursday.

Cape York police Inspector Mark Lingwood confirmed they would resume the search for the missing group today.

He said they had been in contact with their family.

“We are hopeful but there is concern given the amount of time they have been in the water,” he said.

Insp Lingwood said the vessel had some safety equipment, including life jackets.

He said the search area was large and the conditions, including strong winds and rain, had made the search difficult.

He called on anyone travelling in the area to keep an eye out and contact police with any information. The island is about 160km from the Queensland coast and close to the Papua New Guinea border.