Media Release

Aerial search continues in Qld for Father and Son

The search for a 36 year old man and a 10 year old boy in a five metre fishing dinghy, who failed to return to their mother ship on Thursday, will continue tomorrow.

The father and son were checking shark nets about 250 kms south-west of Weipa in the Gulf of Carpentaria and about three nautical miles (5.5 kms) off the coast when they went missing. They were expected to return to the mother ship by about noon on Thursday.

Queensland Police requested AusSAR coordinate an aerial search and six fixed wing aircraft and a helicopter searched yesterday.

The search was scaled up today with 14 fixed wing and 1 helicopter and several fishing vessels covering 1300 sq nautical miles in an area north-west of the Kowanyama Aboriginal Community.

A further area of about 700 sq nautical miles will be searched at first light tomorrow (Sunday 8 June) with eight aircraft and several fishing vessels.

Australian Missionaries rescued

Meanwhile AusSAR has coordinated the rescue of five missionaries overnight after the engine broke down on their 15 metre yacht in the Coral Sea about 1480 kms north-east of Brisbane yesterday.

The Bowen, Queensland-based missionaries, sailing from Gladstone to Espiritu Santo near Vanuatu, issued a radio mayday about midday yesterday stating they were in the direct path of Cyclone Gina.

The group, which includes three men, a woman and a child, were picked up by the 47,000 tonne Japanese merchant ship, Daio Copihue, at 4.20 AEST this morning in very rough seas. All survivors are in good health and will continue on board the ship to its destination port of Iyomishima in Japan in ten days.

Further information:

David Gray AMSA PR 0418 487 794

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