Queensland police have vowed to continue their search for a Fraser Coast man who was last seen in a boat on Boondooma Dam Thursday morning, with helicopters, drones and divers now surveying the area.
Police Inspector Scott Stahlhut with the South Burnett Patrol Group gave the latest update on the search for an as-yet unnamed 74-year-old man just after 1pm on Friday, 27 June.
According to Insp Stahlhut police first became aware of the man’s absence at around 9:15am on Thursday, when his inflatable rubber dinghy washed ashore unoccupied, with the motor still in gear and running.
The man reportedly set out from the Boondooma Dam Caravan Park’s main camp area at 5:15am that same morning, before daylight, taking yabby pots with him. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket and dark-coloured pants.
Police believe he took his boat to a spot Insp Stahlhut called “Little Cove,” explaining the area was well-known to local fishers.
The man, whom Insp Stahlhut confirmed to be from the Fraser Coast as opposed to the Sunshine Coast as earlier reported by police, had frequented Boondooma Dam in the past; his female partner had come to the lake near Proston with him but did not head out on the water on Thursday morning.
Police are not suspecting foul play as being the cause of the man’s disappearance.
According to Insp Stahlhut, police immediately commenced their search of Boondooma Dam after learning of the missing man on Thursday morning.
As part of the search’s second day, the Queensland Police Service has called in a helicopter from Bundaberg, sent four dive squad members into the lake, and also dispatched water police equipped with sonar in an effort to find the 74-year-old.
The Queensland Fire Department and State Emergency Services have provided drones to the effort; dam owners Sunwater are also assisting police with their search, as are civilians who are out on the lake with their boats.
The man’s son has also traveled to the area and is working with police.
Officers are not conducting their search exclusively on the water, choosing to also comb the lake’s shores on the chance the man may have made it to shore.
Insp Stahlhut said the search experienced difficulties on the first day due to heavy winds, making the use of drones difficult.
He did not specify how large of an area police were searching at present, but described the effort as “extensive and thorough.”
Insp Stahlhut confirmed the search will continue until daylight begins to fade, after which it will recommence “with vigour” on Saturday morning.
The QPS inspector said the water temperature at Boondooma Dam stood between 13 and 15 degrees Celsius. He conceded that hopes to find the man alive were decreasing by the hour.
“The conditions aren’t favourable the longer this goes,” Insp Stahlhut said.
Members of the public with information on the man are asked to contact Policelink on police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
