Man missing after boat capsizes at Beachport
THE family of a man, missing in the sea at Beachport since Saturday, says they are holding out hope but are realistic of their chances he’ll be found alive.
THE distraught family of a fisherman who has been missing since his boat capsized in rough seas yesterday morning say they haven’t given up hope the water and motocross enthusiast will be found alive but are realistic about his chances of survival.
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 of Beachport, near Robe, early Saturday morning.
The search for Mr Bollen resumed at first light this morning.
Just before noon today, members from the SES found a jacket near where Mr Bollen went missing, but it’s unclear whether the item belonged to, or is in any way linked, to the missing man.
His older brother, David Bollen today told The Advertiser exclusively 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.
He said Glenn’s wife, who is unwell, is in hospital while his friend who saw him clinging for life before disappearing under the boat suffered hypothermia.
“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.”
An emotional Mr Bollen, of Victoria, said his family have 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.”
“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” 24 hours 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.
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.
“They were initially pulling their crayfish pots, the cray pot became snagged and due to a wave coming through it actually flipped the boat (and) they both went into the water,” Beachport Sergeant Peter Phillips said.
“We obviously stress that life jackets are just like seatbelts; you need to be wearing them.
“We hold very grave concerns for his (missing man’s) safety.”
In SA there must be a lifejacket for each person on board a boat but it is not mandatory for the jackets to be worn.
Beachport man Luke Slater, who was one of the first to head to the beach, said he saw search and rescue boats frantically trying to find the missing man.
”Obviously it is not a good situation to be in,” he said.
Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi urged all visitors to take all necessary precautions before hitting the water as thousands of people head to the area in the state’s south-east for the holidays.
“Our coastline is notorious for large swells and can be quite rough at times,” he said.