Search for fisherman who fell overboard 'suspended,' Australian police say
Emergency response services were informed that the man fell from his boat, Dark Horse, about 34 miles off the coast of Newcastle near Port Stephens in New South Wales around 1 p.m. local time.
The search for the 58-year-old man, who police have yet to identify, continued through Tuesday evening, according to a New South Wales Police Force news release. Initial inquiries suggested the man had become entangled in fishing tackle before falling overboard, according to the news release.
"Despite the efforts of searchers, the man has not yet been located, and the search was suspended at 5pm today and will not resume tomorrow (Wednesday 26 February 2025)," police said in the news release.
A number of outlets, including CBS News, have reported that the man, identified as Paul Barning, was dragged by a shark that was entangled in fishing gear. But police have not been able to confirm that, Vanessa Bolas, New South Wales police spokesperson shared in a statement.
The man's remains not have not been located and his cause of death would be a matter determined by the coroner, Bolas said.
The New South Wales Game Fish Association issued a statement following the fisherman's disappearance, writing in a Sunday afternoon social media post that club had lost a "much loved" and "revered" member during the New South Wales Game Fishing Association Interclub tournament, an annual game fishing event in New South Wales.
"Paul Barning, current secretary, past president and life member of Port Hacking game fishing club was a highly experienced game fisherman," the post read. "He was tragically lost at sea in the most unlikely of circumstances whilst fishing on his boat Dark Horse off Port Stephens on Sunday."
The association went on to say that the reports circulating about Barning being attacked by a shark after he fell overboard were "fabricated and untrue news reporting."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Leonie, his son, Sam and daughters Eleanor and Brigette in this trying time," the association wrote. "We also have the crew and their families in our thoughts and prayers. To those participants of the tournament that assisted in the search efforts, we thank you. We will have resolution on the outcomes of the tournament in due course."
The association wrote that his accident highlights the "risks involved in doing what we all love, game fishing."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Search 'suspended' for Australia fisherman who fell from boat: Police
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