Glenn Bollen missing in rough seas after boat capsizes off Beachport
A SEARCH has resumed for a fisherman missing off Beachport since Saturday, with his distraught family clinging to hopes of a miracle.
A SEARCH has resumed for a fisherman missing off Beachport since Saturday, with his distraught family clinging to hopes of a miracle.
Glenn Bollen, 40, disappeared when he and a friend’s new boat capsized while they were pulling up cray pots off the popular southeastern seaside town, near Robe, early Saturday morning.
Police on Monday morning resumed the search for Mr Bollen.
Despite refusing to abandon hope, his brother David told The Advertiser his family was coming to grips with the likely scenario that their beloved relative has drowned.
“We haven’t given up hope but we understand the reality of what has happened and we are still coming to grips with that,” Mr Bollen said.
The search for Mr Bollen resumed at first light Sunday morning and included an afternoon search by SA Police water divers.
Just before noon Sunday, members from the SES found a jacket near where Mr Bollen went missing.
However it was unclear whether the item belonged to, or is in any way linked, to the missing man.
David Bollen said Glenn’s wife, who is unwell, was in hospital, which had made his disappearance tougher for the family.
The missing man’s friend — who saw him clinging for life before disappearing under the boat — was treated for mild hypothermia and did not need to go to hospital.
“He tried to save him but there was nothing he could do. He has been through a pretty traumatic experience and is trying to cope with that,” he said.
Mr Bollen, of Victoria, said his family had been coming to Beachport for decades since their parents brought them to the fishing and surfing town as children for holidays.
“It was why he moved back here. He loved the place and we often come back here to spend Christmas with the family because it is such a great place to be this time of year,” he said.
“It all just happened so quickly. He has gone out with one of his mates from Melbourne in a new boat and suddenly he is not coming home. We are all in shock.”
David said it had been a “rough” two days since Glenn went missing.
“We have not slept; all we can do is wait until we hear something from the SES or the police. It is hard to know what to do but in reality what can you do but pray.”
Glen Bollen moved back to Beachport with his wife about ten years ago and has set up a beach recovery operation, for rescuing stricken vehicles off the sand, and also a lawn mowing business.
“He is an outdoors man, he loves his fishing, motorbike riding, anything that involves getting out there,” Mr Bollen said.
He also breeds French Bulldogs.
The SES, STAR Group, police water patrols, and a rescue helicopter continued the search for Mr Bollen at first light.
Beachport Sergeant Peter Phillips said Mr Bollen and his friend were trying to pull up a crayfish pot when a wave hit the vessel tipping it over.
The Advertiser has been told the alarm was raised when a Beachport resident spotted the man clinging to the boat just before 8.30am as it was tossed around in choppy waters.
Neither men were wearing life jackets.
An SA Police spokeswoman said the search for Mr Bollen would resume early Monday morning.
In a separate incident, four fishermen escaped injury after their boat capsized off Encounter Bay on Sunday afternoon.
A Sea Rescue Squadron boat helped rescue the men after their boat capsized at about 2pm.
Three were treated at the scene but none suffered serious injuries.