BOAT FOUND, MAN MISSING
THE boat belonging to missing fisherman Colin Palmer was found on Wednesday afternoon northeast of Cairns.
Police said the boat was found near Arlington Reef by a passing vessel.
“A helicopter was sent to investigate and confirmed it was the boat belonging to the missing fisherman,” police said in a statement.
“The boat is being recovered and taken to Cairns. The family has been advised.”
The location of the boat had been a mystery after Mr Palmer, 41, and another man, 45, were knocked off the vessel into Cleveland Bay on Friday night.
While the 45-year-old was able to be rescued on Saturday morning, the search continued for Mr Palmer yesterday.
It is believed both men were standing at the back of their boat when a wave knocked it, causing them to fall overboard.
The men were unable to swim back to their boat, and began to swim towards the mainland, supporting each other as they tried to swim to safety.
But at some point, the men became separated in the darkness and lost contact with each other.