Appeal for search help

FAMILY of missing spearfisherman Torrance Sambo are pleading with boat, jet ski and drone owners to take part in a co-ordinated land and sea search extending from Innisfail to Wujal Wujal.

The 26-year-old failed to return to the boat when spearfishing at Sudbury Reef last Saturday.

Despite the official search scouring 135sq km of ocean, the mission failed to find the Edmonton man and was called off by Cairns police on Monday.

Not deterred, Mr Sambo’s family – believing the much-loved father of three could still be alive – has vowed to search on.

At 4am on Saturday, boaties will take on free fuel and supplies before rendezvousing at five locations and heading out on a desperate mission to bring Mr Sambo home.

Search crews will meet at Trinity Inlet, Port Douglas, Yarrabah, Wujal Wujal and Innisfail.

Mr Sambo’s sister Genavie Tabaui made a desperate plea on Friday afternoon for help with the search.

“The police may have given up on Torri, but we have not,” she said

“We are sending out a heartfelt plea to the public to help us find Torri. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.”

Volunteer Marine Rescue officer in charge of Gulf waters Peter Graham said ocean currents often moved floating debris hundreds of kilometres.

“There’s particular spots, a stretch of beach north of Cape Flattery, it’s unbelievable what washes up from tourist areas. (Items) like dinghies, fuel tanks and diving gear,” he said.

“When the tides and currents work together it’s amazing what turns up.”

He commended the family for undertaking their own search but feared hopes of finding the spearfisherman alive were remote.

“What the family is doing now is exceptional,” he said.

“As important as a family member is there are limited resources and you can’t blow them all on the one search. You have to have resources for the next one.”

He said sometimes best preparations and doing the right thing were not enough to ensure safety on the reef.

“The thousands of people out there every week, the stats of something going wrong are almost incalculable,” he said.

“From Bundaberg north to PNG the chance of (death) is minimal. There would be one fatality in a million.

“Sometimes you do nothing wrong but it’s just circumstances on the day.”