Latest news with #GeoffBuchanan
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Sky News AU
Police reveal major update in desperate search for fisherman who disappeared off NSW coast following worrying discovery
The multi-agency search for a missing fisherman who failed to return from a weekend fishing trip has been suspended following a major discovery off the NSW coast. Geoff Buchanan, 56, disappeared along with his 8-metre Arvor cruiser vessel on Saturday, and police have been told he left Batesman Bay Marina about 6am that morning. Emergency services were called to the marina at around 8pm on Saturday night after receiving numerous reports a man had not returned to port. South Coast Police District officers, Marine Rescue NSW and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) have since assisted NSW Police's Marine Area Command in a major search operation to try and locate the fisherman. The search area has spanned from as far north as Port Stephens to the Victoria-NSW border in the south, according to police. NSW Police announced on Tuesday afternoon that the search for Mr Buchanan had been suspended, however, after his boat was found about 1.20pm off the South Coast without him on board. The empty vessel was located by AMSA's Challenger aircraft about 80 nautical miles east of Narooma, a police statement said. Fisherman from a commercial fishing boat nearby helped stop the located vessel in challenging conditions, and the cruiser will now be towed to shore. Marine Area Command patrols will continue in the coming days. Marine Rescue NSW dispatched a fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter to scout the area on Saturday night, with the overnight search continuing until 1am on Sunday. "The Marine Rescue Batemans Bay and Bermagui crews said sea conditions were favourable last night, but it was quite dark with little assistance from the moon, and they had to navigate around numerous whales," Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey had said. Dozens of local volunteers, six patrol boats, a light aircraft and Surf Life Saving NSW crews supported the search operation when it continued on Sunday morning. Large police rescue boats were spotted cruising the waters on Sunday afternoon, navigating migrating whales, while helicopters were also dispatched.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- News.com.au
‘No one was on board': Rescue abandoned after grim discovery
An urgent search for missing fisherman Geoff Buchanan has been abandoned after his boat was discovered almost 150km out to sea unmanned and drifting aimlessly. Emergency services were called to Batemans Bay Marina about 8pm on Saturday after the 56-year-old Sussex Inlet man failed to return from a daylong fishing trip. About 1.20pm on Tuesday, Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Challenger aircraft found the fisherman's empty boat east of Narooma. Nearby commercial fishing boats assisted in stabilising the drifting cruiser amid choppy sea conditions. The vessel is being towed back to shore. Police were informed that Mr Buchanan had departed the marina about 6am aboard an eight-metre Arvor cruiser. He was last spoken to about 10am. When he didn't return as expected, concerns were raised and emergency services were notified about 7.20pm. A search operation was launched by the Marine Area Command, with support from South Coast Police District officers, Marine Rescue NSW and AMSA. The search area was expanded significantly, stretching from Port Stephens in the north to the Victorian border in the south. NSW Police marine area command officer detective chief inspector Anthony Brazzill said Mr Buchanan suffered from diabetes and police had not ruled out the possibility he suffered a medical episode onboard. 'The gentleman does have health issues managing diabetes that we're extremely concerned about … we understand he had the medication,' Inspector Brazzill said. 'But if something did happen where he had an episode and couldn't get to his medication, that is our grave concern.' Mr Chaffey said Mr Buchanan had been planning to fish for tuna near the continental shelf and potentially stop for a dive on the way back on Saturday. '(Mr Buchanan) was very safety conscious,' he said. 'He always lets the marina know where he's going, when he's going.' A close friend of Mr Buchanan, and manager of the Batemans Bay d'Albora marina, Mitch Chaffey, told the ABC Mr Buchanan was a highly experienced waterman. 'Geoff's been around the water his whole life, very experienced in the water and on the water, fisherman, skin diver, who knows his way around a boat,' Mr Chaffey said.
ABC News
7 days ago
- ABC News
Search for missing Sussex Inlet fisher Geoff Buchanan suspended after empty boat located
The search for missing fisherman Geoff Buchanan off the New South Wales coast has been suspended after his empty boat was recovered by authorities. A multi-agency search for Mr Buchanan started on Saturday evening after the Sussex Inlet man failed to return to the Batemans Bay marina. It is believed the 56-year-old was heading towards the continental shelf to catch tuna. About 1:20pm on Tuesday, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's (AMSA) aircraft located the boat about 80 nautical with east of Narooma. No one was on board. Police said fisherman on board a nearby commercial fishing vessels helped stop the boat in challenging conditions. The boat, a white, 8-metre Avor motor cruiser, will be towed to shore. Police said patrols by Marine Area Command would continue in the coming days. A close friend of Mr Buchanan, and manager of the Batemans Bay d'Albora marina, Mitch Chaffey, said Mr Buchanan was a highly experienced waterman. "Geoff's been around the water his whole life, very experienced in the water and on the water, fisherman, skin diver, who knows his way around a boat," Mr Chaffey said. NSW Police Marine Area Command officer Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Brazzill said Mr Buchanan was a diabetic and police had not ruled out the possibility he suffered a medical episode on board. "The gentleman does have health issues managing diabetes that we're extremely concerned about … we understand he had the medication," Inspector Brazzill said. The search, which was initially focused between Narooma and Bermagui, was expanded on Monday to between Port Stephens and the Victorian border after unconfirmed sightings of the vessel by the public. Inspector Brazzill said using drift modelling, the search area was expanded again on Tuesday to cover 9,200 square nautical miles from Port Stephens to Bass Strait. However, he said there had been a particular focus further out to sea from the south coast of New South Wales on Tuesday. Mr Chaffey said Mr Buchanan had been planning to fish for tuna near the continental shelf and potentially stop for a dive on the way back on Saturday. He said Mr Buchanan was meant to be on the boat with his friend that day but the friend could not make it. "[Mr Buchanan] was very safety conscious," he said. Police said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger jet, military aircraft, marine rescue and surf life saving vessels had been involved in the search.
ABC News
22-07-2025
- ABC News
Search continues for missing Sussex Inlet fisher Geoff Buchanan along NSW coast
New South Wales police say south coast fisherman Geoff Buchanan could possibly have suffered a medical episode before going missing. A multi-agency search for Mr Buchanan started on Saturday evening after the Sussex Inlet man failed to return to the Batemans Bay Marina. It is believed the 56-year-old was heading towards the continental shelf to catch tuna. A close friend of Mr Buchanan, and manager of the Batemans Bay d'Albora marina, Mitch Chaffey, said Mr Buchanan was a highly experienced waterman. NSW Police Marine Area Command officer Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Brazzill said Mr Buchanan was a diabetic and police were not ruling out him suffering a medical episode on board. "The gentleman does have health issues managing diabetes that we're extremely concerned about … we understand he had the medication," Inspector Brazzill said. "But if something did happen where he had an episode and couldn't get to his medication that is our grave concern. "We're still holding out hope that we find the gentleman, find the boat and we'll continue for now." The search, which was initially focused between Narooma and Bermagui, was expanded on Monday to between Port Stephens and the Victorian border after unconfirmed sightings of the vessel by the public. Inspector Brazzill said using drift modelling, the search area had expanded to cover 9,200 square nautical miles stretching from Bass Straight to Port Stephens. However, he said there would be a particular focus further out to sea from the south coast of New South Wales on Tuesday. "We're aware there is a large fishing fleet probably about 50 miles off the coast down that way, which I think the Rescue Coordination Centre have obviously communicated to those people to keep an eye out as well," Inspector Brazzill said. Inspector Brazzill said it was highly unusual the extensive search had not found any trace of the man or boat. He said police were doubling down on an appeal for public help. Officers have released an image of his boat, a white, eight-metre Avor motor cruiser, with a 300-horsepower Mercury brand motor and registration AMG403N. Mr Chaffey said Mr Buchanan was planning to fish for tuna near the continental shelf and potentially stop for a dive on the way back on Saturday. He said Mr Buchanan was meant to be on the boat with his friend that day but the friend could not make it. "[Mr Buchanan] was very safety conscious," he said. Police said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger jet, military aircraft, marine rescue and surf life saving vessels had been involved in the search.
