Fisherman dies in Portarlington boating tragedy

A man has died after falling from his fishing boat in water off Portarlington in a devastating end to the seaside town’s “big weekend.”

Police on scene at the Portarlington Pier. Picture: David Smith

The fisherman who died after falling from his fishing boat in water of Portarlington has been identified.

Police have confirmed the victim of the tragedy was a 64-year-old man from Reservoir, in Melbourne’s north.

Authorities were called to Portarlington Pier at about midday on Monday following reports a fisherman had come into trouble.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty said officers had been told two men were fishing in a boat about 1km off shore when one of the men fell in.

He was unable to be saved and died at the scene.

Police at the scene of Portarlington Pier after a man drowned when he fell from a fishing boat. Picture: David Smith

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman confirmed paramedics attended the scene.

Ms Batty said police had closed off the pier while the investigations continued.

It has since been reopened.

She said officers would prepare a report for the coroner.

Witnesses have described “not knowing what was going on” as the pier was closed.

The tragedy did not affect services on Port Phillip Ferries and the harbour has since been reopened.

Multiple trips had been running from Melbourne to the seaside town, which hosted the National Celtic Folk Festival this long weekend.

A Portarlington business owner, who did not want to be named, said it was a “sad end” to a festive few days.

“You never like hearing this,” he said.

“There has been police activity down the pier this afternoon and obviously it was closed for some time.

“It’s very sad, a sad end to what is a big weekend here.”

A boat near the scene of the fatal fishing incident.

Another witness said multiple police cars were on scene and the pier had been taped off.

The tragedy follows a string of similar incidents across the region in recent years.

In 2021 a fisherman died near Lorne after falling into water at Sheoak Creek and in 2020 a fisherman drowned at Point Roadknight beach after he was earlier spotted fishing off rocks.

In 2019 a 59-year-old man from Reservoir drowned after falling into water at the bottom of a cliff at Separation Creek.

Life Saving Victoria says wearing life jackets while boating is paramount, with its 2021-22 drowning report revealing in about eight in 10 boating or fishing-related drowning deaths over past decade the victim was either not wearing a life jacket, or wore one incorrectly.

“A lifejacket is the single most important piece of safety equipment on a recreational vessel, and wearing one while boating isn’t just recommended, it’s legislated,” Safe Transport Victoria’s manager of recreational boating safety Gareth Johnson said last year.

Originally published as Fisherman dies in Portarlington boating tragedy