Rescuers review search
Operation to find fisherman missing since Friday to be scaled back
THREE days into the search and rescue operation for missing Townsville man Colin Palmer, authorities have made the decision to scale back the operation.
Multiple government and volunteer organisations took to the air and water again on Monday in search of the missing 41-year-old, who was last seen by his fishing buddy, 45, on Friday night after they fell off their boat into the waters around Cleveland Bay. The pair were unable to swim back to their boat.
The 45-year-old was rescued by a commercial fishing vessel after treading water for around six hours, but at some point during that time Mr Palmer had disappeared.
Speaking to media on Monday afternoon, district duty officer Senior Sergeant Rob Dusha said 70 nautical miles had been searched, including the inshore Cleveland Bay area, as well as the coastal and mangrove areas, the Magnetic Island foreshore, and northern coastal waters.
It was announced on Sunday that the search would be extended north to Palm Island.
Senior Sergeant Dusha said while searchers and police were holding on to hope that Mr Palmer would be found, on Monday afternoon a decision as to whether the search would be scaled back would be made.
The decision to scale back the operation was made late Monday night.
“We constantly hold out hope that we will be able to successfully locate this man,” Senior Sergeant Dusha said.
He said it was possible Mr Palmer and the boat, a white Quintrex coast runner, had become separated.
The boat was not found on Monday.
“We are searching for any evidence of this gentleman,” he said when asked if it was possible the boat had sunk.
On Sunday, Mr Palmer’s family had taken to the water on private vessels to assist in the search.
Senior Sergeant Dusha said
Queensland Police Service liaison officers as well as the search and rescue co-ordination team had been in constant contact with the family.
On Monday, police as well as three Townsville Coast Guard vessels, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Maritime Safety vessels, three State Emergency Service flood boats, three Surf Lifesaving Queensland boats, and a helicopter were involved in the search.
“We have covered the area extensively and very, very thoroughly, and will continue to do so for the sake of the family to come to some answers of what has taken place,” he said. When asked if the incident was being treated as suspicious, he said it was still being treated as a search and rescue operation.