Man in 70s reported missing by family after empty boat washes ashore at Kingston Beach, south of Hobart

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Police believe a man whose boat washed ashore at a popular beach south of Hobart yesterday was not wearing a life jacket. An extensive search is continuing, but authorities say his chances of survival are slim.

Transcript

00:00Flying low over the River Derwent, a rescue helicopter searches for a man missing for

00:09more than 24 hours.

00:11Given the current water temperature and the overnight temperature, that makes survivability

00:16at this point in time, if he was still in the water, very low.

00:21Concerns were first raised when this 10-metre flybridge cruiser washed ashore at Kingston

00:26Beach on Wednesday afternoon.

00:28The owner, a man in his 70s, was nowhere to be seen and was later reported missing

00:34by his family.

00:35We believe at this point that the male has likely entered the water and subsequently

00:40we launched a search and rescue operation yesterday afternoon.

00:44The extensive search has involved two helicopters and seven vessels, as well as teams on the

00:49shoreline looking for any trace of the man.

00:52Inquiries at this point indicate that he perhaps was not wearing a life jacket.

00:56Police say the man boarded his boat here at the Derwent Park Marina at around 7 o'clock

01:02on Wednesday morning.

01:03He was the only person on board the vessel.

01:07Conditions were calm when he left, with only light winds on the water.

01:11News of his disappearance coming as a shock to the local boating community.

01:15Some people have popped in and obviously have their concerns, as I do, you know, like you

01:20develop.

01:21Even though I manage the marina, you develop these friendships with these people.

01:26Police are reminding the public to always take care on the water, including wearing

01:30life jackets, even in fine weather.

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