Marine Rescue NSW reports:
Crews have been stood down for the day from the search for a missing boater lost overboard in a fatal accident on the Narooma bar early this morning.The search will resume with a briefing tomorrow morning.
One man died when the small runabout overturned just after 6am. He was retrieved from the water by a nearby boater and returned to shore but was unable to be resuscitated.Emergency services deployed rapidly to the scene, mounting a large-scale sea and air search offshore and on the Wagonga Inlet for the second man who had been on board.
Rescue assets from Marine Rescue Narooma, Marine Rescue Bermagui and Tuross Marine Rescue, the Marine Area Command - NSW Police Force, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Toll Ambulance Rescue, Surf Life Saving NSW and NSW Maritime have searched throughout the day.
Several charter vessels and other boaters assisted.
MRNSW rescue vessels Narooma 30 and Bermagui 30 are expected to continue searching offshore tomorrow, while a smaller vessel from Marine Rescue Batemans Bay and Rescue Water Craft will concentrate on the Inlet.Marine Area Command - NSW Police Force, Surf Life Saving NSW and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service also will be back on scene tomorrow.
MRNSW Monaro Regional Operations Controller Glenn Sullivan thanked all the crew members who had responded rapidly and professionally to the emergency.
“The seamless coordination of the numerous rescue agencies who took part in today's operation proved the value of our frequent joint training exercises and strong operational cooperation," he said.
"At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the family and friends of the two men who had simply been heading out to go fishing when this terrible accident occurred."
