Police search for missing outrigger paddler Denne Bourke enters third day in Torres Strait
The community of Thursday Island has fingers crossed for the safe return of a well-known businessman and outrigger paddler who has been missing at sea for three days.
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The Thursday Island community has its fingers crossed for the safe return of a well-known businessman and outrigger paddler who has been missing at sea for three days.
Hope is at the forefront as an intense marine search and rescue mission by authorities including police and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority assisted by the Torres Strait community entered its third day on Friday to locate Denne Bourke who went missing while paddling an outrigger canoe between Thursday Island and Horn Island.
Far North District police are co-ordinating the search and rescue operation following the discovery of an empty outrigger canoe around 100 metres off shore from Thursday Island on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old is understood to be a member of the Torres Strait Outrigger Canoe Club and was believed to be paddling a modern lightweight single man canoe when he went missing.
The highly regarded owner of The Coffee Department van has long been a long-time supporter of island events, fundraisers and grassroots sporting clubs.
Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association secretary Caryn Scott, said Mr Bourke and his family are very much in the minds of its members and they are hoping for a positive outcome.
“We are praying for a safe return,” she said.
“Our heartfelt thoughts are with family and friends at this time.”
On Thursday from first to last light, extensive aerial and surface searches covered hundreds of square nautical miles in the vicinity of the channel between Horn and Thursday Islands where the missing 38-year-old was last seen on his vessel.
The tight-knit community have come together to bolster the search party efforts on land and at sea and their efforts have been praised by Torres Strait Patrol Group Acting Inspector Andrew Pool.
“The missing man has strong ties to the community here and is a much loved and valued father, partner, son and friend to many and everything possible is being done to locate him,’ Acting Inspector Pool said.
“The search party has taken into account tidal patterns, and conditions have at times been challenging with rough sea and winds, with intermittent rains easing. Unfortunately, no further items of interest have been found.
“As time progresses, grave fears are held for the man’s welfare and every support is being offered to his family.
“The search will continue until nightfall, with several water police vessels along with private boats, and rotary aircraft taking part.”
However, Acting Inspector Pool said despite the intense search, no trace of Mr Bourke had been located so far.
“Unfortunately, no further items of interest have been found,” he said.
“As time progresses, grave fears are held for the man’s welfare and every support is being offered to his family.
“The search will continue until nightfall, with several water police vessels along with private boats, and rotary aircraft taking part”.
Meanwhile tributes have been pouring in for Mr Burke and his family.
Thursday Island resident Farhad Kamal posted on social media: “Wonderful community member Denne Bourke is known to me since 2020. I met him yesterday (03 May 2023) at the IBIS grocery store and had a conversation. I can’t accept his disappearance by this unfortunate, mysterious, shocking and heartbreaking incident,” Mr Kamal wrote.
As soon as Mr Bourke was reported missing on May 3, a search was instigated by Thursday Island Water Police and included officers in boats and the Rescue 510 helicopter which have been assisted by Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
On May 3 at about 11pm, a member of the public located a cap belonging to the missing man at Channel Rock.
Acting Inspector Pool asked any local boaties and other recreational water users to immediately report sightings to police.
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Originally published as Police search for missing outrigger paddler Denne Bourke enters third day in Torres Strait
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