Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man who appears to have gone missing in surf off Yamba’s Main Beach yesterday.
Although no one has been reported missing, the man’s ‘Outback Spectacular’ hat and maroon-coloured towel were still on the beach some hours after he was seen entering the water.
At around 12.15pm (Sunday February 1), the man was seen entering the surf wearing dark-coloured board shorts and with a profound limp on his left leg..
He was described by witnesses as in being aged in his 60s, around 170 to 173cms tall with short-grey hair.
Police spoke with several witnesses and lifeguards but none seen the man return from the surf.
Police searched surrounding businesses and vehicles but were unable to locate him.
Surf Lifesaving IRBs and jetskis, together with Marine Rescue and the Life Saver Rescue Helicopter patrolled the surf but did not find the man.
Surf Lifesaving duty officer Peter Sweetman told ABC radio this morning that although the surf was not strong there was a strong rip running at the point where the man entered the water.
‘We had a large runout rip in this particular area, so we took it as a possibility that someone had gone in there.’
Mr Sweetman said it was unfortunate that the man was not reported missing for at least three hours after he was seen entering the surf.
He is believed to have been on his own at the beach, Mr Sweetman added.
The search was called off due to poor visibility in the water at around 6.30pm.
Police are appealing for the man or anyone with information about the man to contact Yamba Police Station on 02 6603 0199 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
I really hope they find this man!