An overdue message from the Cairns Water Police
Water Police Cairns are reminding Far North boaties to have a communication plan with friends or relatives when they go boating.
Some recent good weather has enabled a lot of boat owners to get out on the water throughout the region.
On Sunday a concerned woman contacted Police to advise that her partner had gone fishing alone offshore from Cooktown on Saturday morning in a 4.6m dinghy and he was expected to return by 1pm that same day.
When he failed to return by 11:30am on Sunday she reported him overdue to Police.
Make a plan and tell a responsible person.
Immediate concerns were held for the safety of the 43-year-old and Water Police commenced search planning involving the Queensland Government Air Rescue Helicopter, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Challenger Jet Aircraft and the Cooktown Australian Volunteer Coast Guard.
Thankfully during the planning phase of the search the male returned to shore safely. Police spoke to him and he advised he was not in any difficulty but had chosen to stay out fishing rather than return to shore at the time he had advised his partner.
Water Police recommend that if you are going boating that you leave very clear information with a responsible person about where you are going and when you are due to return.
Make sure that you keep to those arranged plans and if you change you only do so once you have contacted the responsible person.
Valuable time and resources of Police, Volunteers and Rescue Organisations are often taken up due to boaties not making or keeping to plans about when they are returning and where they are going.
Does someone know where you are going and when you are due back?
Source: Cairns Crime Alert
