Thursday 22 August

5.00pm

The search for missing rock fishermen feared to have been swept away from Storm Bay has been suspended. 

NSW Police advised that patrols will be ongoing in search for the two men, but the search will not move forward as a large scale multi-agency approach as it has been over the past two days.

Officers from the Liverpool City Police Area Command received a report of their disappearance around 3am on Tuesday 20 August. 

The operation was suspended around 1.30pm today.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Wednesday 21 August

4.00pm

There is still no sign of the missing father and son as the search comes to a close on its second day.

Search efforts have been directed to the coastlines of Gerroa and Currarong due to predictive ocean current modelling. 

Marine Search NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said crews will continue the search tomorrow, Thursday 22 August.

“Like our crews did today, JB 41 will continue to focus on an area south of Kiama under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command,” Inspector Massey said.

The waters surrounding Storm Bay and Black Beach were scoured yesterday for any sign of the two missing fishermen through a multi-agency effort. 

“We’ve got two vessels out again today conducting parallel line and grid searches as directed by the water police”, a spokesperson for Marine Rescue NSW said.

Jervis Bay 41 during today's search for missing father and son

Image: Marine Rescue NSW

4.30pm

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers will be joining the multi-agency search for a missing father and son off Kiama’s harbour following their reported disappearance last night. 

Volunteer crews are being deployed from Shellharbour and Jervis Bay units tomorrow to join the extensive search. 

Superintendent Craig Ireland of the Lake Illawarra Police District said the water conditions were unfavourable the night of their disappearance. 

"We are very concerned, it does appear in all likelihood they have been swept off the rocks, there was a large swell last night and a high tide at the time they were fishing,” Ireland said in a statement to the ABC.

Marine Rescue NSW Illawarra Inspector Stuart Massey said two vessels are set to continue the search south of Kiama tomorrow, 21 August. 

“Shellharbour 30 and Jervis Bay 41 will conduct search patterns which will be determined by NSW Police Marine Area Command,” Inspector Massey said.

10.15am

There are grave concerns for a father and son believed to be missing in waters off of Storm Bay in Kiama.

The two rock fishermen, aged 47 and 17, reportedly failed to return home in southwestern Sydney after a fishing trip early last night on Monday 19 August.

Two rescue helicopters have been sighted patrolling the waters along Kiama Harbour in hopes of finding the two men. 

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey said the Port Kembla crew joined the search this morning at 7.30am under the direction of the NSW Police Marine Area Command.

The extensive search is being conducted now along waters off Terralong Street and Blowhole Point Road. Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District, Marine Area Command, Police Divers, Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, PolAir, Marine Rescue, SES, and Surf Life Saving NSW are on site searching for the two men.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

WHEN: 10.30am today (Tuesday 20 August 2024)

WHERE: Command Post - Terralong Street, Kiama

WHO: Superintendent Craig Ireland, Commander, Lake Illawarra Police District