Desperate volunteer call to find boaties missing at sea for 10 days

Cash is desperately needed to finance a private search and rescue mission in a race against time to locate missing fisherman Danny Sheather and two companions. HOW TO GET INVOLVED

CASH is desperately needed to finance a private search and rescue mission in a race against time to locate missing Mission Beach fisherman Danny Sheather and two companions.

Vanuatu men Kekly Tari and Dexter Bong joined Tongan national Siosiua Asi and Mr Sheather for an overnight fishing trip that departed the Clump Point boat ramp on Friday July 8.

Anchoring at Eddy Reef overnight the fishermen’s boat was swamped by heavy seas and sunk after the engine failed.

Mission Beach fisherman Danny Sheather remains missing at sea. Picture: Facebook

Mr Asi was found in the water clinging to an Esky 30 hours later on Monday July 11 by a Mission Helicopters search chopper but the three other friends remain lost at sea.

It has been 10 days since the three other fishermen were last seen alive.

Danny Sheather’s aunt Skye Almond has appealed for help to locate the missing men.

“Police have scaled back their search so it’s now up to the family to find him,” she said.

“We are wanting to get boats and planes out as soon as possible.

“We are searching the beaches north to Yarrabah and wanting to search all the surrounding islands.

Missing fishermen Kekly Tari, Danny Sheather and Dexter Bong have not been seen since July 10.

“Any help or donations to bring him home safe are desperately needed.”

The crowd-funding campaign to date has raised $3,300 of a $10,000 goal.

In a heartbreaking twist Mr Sheather had recently become engaged to Tongan woman Heimoana Latu.

Police consulted marine experts on Friday before moving the focus of the search from Etty Bay where they spent multiple days last week without success.

A police image showing the rescue of a missing fisherman off the coast of Cowley Beach on Sunday July 11.

The latest search efforts have concentrated on the Flying Fish Point area.

Land teams co-ordinated by Queensland Police Service have scoured the land assisted by SES volunteers using two ATVs and a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Though the major air and sea search was scaled back last week, private charter company Mission Helicopters has been tasked daily by police to find the missing men.

Ms Almond said the family just wanted their loved one back home.

“We are worried beyond words but also hopeful and positive,” she said.

“Please keep him and the other boys in your thoughts or prayers.”

A police spokeswoman said the official search had not yet been called off and weekend searches again focused on shorelines around Flying Fish Point.

The scope of Monday’s search for the missing three men remain unknown. To donate visit the Find Danny appeal hosted by Gofundme.

Follow @petercarruther1

Originally published as Desperate volunteer call to find boaties missing at sea for 10 days