Surf Life Saving NSW has reduced the number of assets involved in the search for a man missing since early Tuesday morning at Narooma on the state’s Far South Coast.


The 32-year-old man, believed to be a local Narooma resident, has been missing since a boat he was on capsized off the Narooma Bar at around 6am on Tuesday morning.



The body of another man, who was also on the boat at the time of the incident, was recovered eary on Tuesday morning and is believed to be that of a 60-year-old local Narooma resident.



It’s believed that both men were wearing manually inflatable life jackets at the time of the incident but that the jackets may not have been inflated.



Surf Life Saving NSW was asked to provide multiple search and rescues assets to assist with the search including: two Jetskis (RWCs); an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) and a Westpac Life Saver Rescue Drone (UAV).



The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is still asssisting with search and rescue operations today.



Surf Life Saving NSW Duty Officer, Ben Bate, said that conditions on Tuesday morning in Narooma at the time of the incident were very rough.



“There was a large swell – at least two-to-three metres. It was very sizeable. It would also have been very dark at 6am, when the incident occurred,” said Ben Bate.



There have been 31 coastal drownings since 1 July 2019. Eighteen of these have occurred over the Summer period (since December 2019).



Beach safety messages




  • Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags, for your nearest patrolled beach check the BeachSafe app or website

  • Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information

  • Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other, and always supervise children around the water

  • Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs

  • If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm

  • In an emergency, dial Triple Zero Police

  • For information about patrol times, weather, and beach locations visit the Beachsafe Website or Download the App.



Thursday 12 March 2020