Cops call on fishos for help

INVESTIGATORS have called for assistance from other boaties as they attempt to work out exactly what led to the deaths of beloved Townsville fishermen Eddie Greenwood and Michael Allen.

The two friends were on an early morning fishing trip on May 11, departing Townsville about 3am, when tragedy struck.

Their 4.5m tinnie was believed to have struck rocks and overturned and the bodies of the two fathers and dedicated family men were found at Orchard Reef Rocks, about 1.5 nautical miles from the upturned boat found at Arthur Bay.

Townsville Water Police officer in charge Sergeant Matthew Pegg said they were still trying to determine the speed the boat had been travelling and whether other factors, including visibility, played a role in the incident.

Sgt Pegg said early indications were no other vessel had been involved and it appeared the boat had struck rocks.

He urged any boaties who had been on the water at Magnetic Island and in the area of the tragedy between 3am and 7am on May 11 to contact PoliceLink on 131 444.

He hoped other boaties could provide more detailed information on the conditions that morning, as there had been some reports of heavy fog around the time of the accident.

Sgt. Pegg said the experience of Mr Greenwood and Mr Allen would be taken into account when finalising the report for the coroner.

He expressed his sympathies for the families of the two men and said it had been fortunate in some regards that their bodies had been found, providing closure for the families.

“There’s many fatal marine incidents where you don’t get that exact closure,” Sgt Pegg said.