Capsize sparks wasted search

A search and rescue mission launched after sightings of an overturned boat was an exercise in wasted resources.

The capsized boat near Cable Bay was reported to police around 6.30pm on Friday, after it had been seen earlier with two people fishing from it.

Emergency services had grave concerns for the safety of those on board, and began a search and rescue operation to locate them.

A helicopter was deployed, along with Coastguard, Surf Rescue teams and Search and Rescue staff, while police began making inquiries with potential owners of the boat and a vehicle found nearby. Police also put an appeal out on social media for information.

About 8.30pm, police were contacted by the two men who had been on the boat to say they were safe and well.

The men had seen the social media post. They told police their boat had become submerged and they had swum ashore on nearby Pepin Island. From there, they phoned acquaintances to help them get home.

Senior Sergeant Stu Koefoed said the incident sent a message out to boaties that police needed to be notified if they got into trouble.

‘‘We take every report such as this incredibly seriously, and if we had been contacted by the men earlier, we wouldn’t have had to launch a full-scale search and take resources away from other areas.

‘‘We were worried these men could have been in serious trouble.’’

Despite being given the runaround, police were relieved the men were safe, Koefoed said.

‘‘The pair had got a lot of the rules of boating safety right. They were carrying their phones in a dry bag and they were wearing lifejackets, which is fantastic.’’