Jed Farraway’s body located after horror boat crash at Port Alma

Locals are questioning the possible cause of the tragic death of a fisherman who died after his boat hit an object and flipped in waters near Rockhampton, with some claiming they’ve been saying for years that an accident would happen there.

The search for a missing fisherman off the coast of Central Queensland has ended tragically with a friend finding the body of Jed Farraway late on Sunday afternoon, as questions are being asked over what caused the tragedy.

Senior Constable Grant Kerlin from Yeppoon water police confirmed the death of Mr Farraway, 28, about 6.30pm.

“Around 5pm this afternoon, a friend of the missing person was doing some patrols and he’s located him still in the water near where the crash site was,” he said.

Avid fisherman Jed Farraway’s body has been found.

Senior Constable Kerlin said the search crew retrieved Mr Farraway’s body and returned him to the Port Alma boat where he was declared deceased by Queensland Ambulance Service officers.

He said family will be able to have some closure as Mr Farraway’s body was found.

“What was really incredible was all his friends and family coming up in their own boats to go out and search,” he said.

“They did a great effort. We certainly appreciate it. We made sure we spoke to each one that we could and thank them for their efforts.”

Emergency services are on the scene of a serious boat crash near Rockhampton.

He said police will work with Mr Farraway’s friends and family and the coroner to work out what happened and how it can be prevented from happening again.

One fisherman who was on the scene when the search got under way told the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin he had been saying for years there would be an accident due to the buoys around the Port Alma boat ramp as they weren’t marked.

He said if anyone hit the ones near Thompson Point Boat ramp, they wouldn’t have caused such an accident but the ones at Port Alma would because they were made of harder material.

He said there was one particular buoy in front of the boat ramp that was particularly dangerous because it is hard to see.

Meanwhile, a man in his 20s remains in a serious condition with chest, abdominal, and leg injuries following the accident.

He was flown to Rockhampton Hospital by rescue helicopter.

Another man in his mid 20s was treated for leg and back injuries, with another man in his 30s treated for chest, leg and facial injuries.

They were also taken to Rockhampton Hospital.

Members of the fishing community rallied to join the search for vid fisherman Jed Farraway, however his body was found about 5pm on Sunday.

Coast Guard Flotilla Commander Jim Warren detailed the search efforts.

He said the Coast Guard were called by police at 7.53am on April 3 to search for Mr Farraway.

Mr Warren said Marine Assist Rescue from Coast Guard Yeppoon, CHSS Rescue from Coast Guard Keppel Sands and the Capricorn Rescue Helicopter were activated.

He said the water police vessel was taken by road to the boat ramp while Marine Assist Rescue left Keppel Bay Harbour at 8.30am and arrived at 10.08am and the Keppel Sands crew arrived at 9.45am.

Mr Warren said the chopper searched initially near the crash site while Marine Assist Rescue followed the incoming tide to search upstream in nearby creeks.

Yeppoon Water Police will conduct an investigation in conjunction with Maritime Safety Queensland and a report will be done for the coroner.

Avid fisherman Jed Farraway is missing off the coast of Central Queensland.

A post by Jack Riley on the Be Like Trent Facebook page – a page about another missing Queensland fisherman Trent Riley – states Mr Farraway was last seen at the Port Alma boat ramp about 7am.

He said the information he has received was Mr Farraway’s boat “likely hit a buoy” and the boat flipped.

A Google Maps image of Port Alma where a person is missing following a boat incident.

Mr Farraway’s Facebook page shows Jed was an avid fisherman.

The post also states he lives with Mr Riley’s friend, and another comment in the feed explained that it has been one year since Mr Riley went missing after falling overboard during a solo fishing trip in Moreton Bay in April 2021.

The Be Like Trent page has turned into a missing person’s page in the past year, as well as rallying people to help flood victims.

Senior Constable Grant Kerlin from Yeppoon water police said about six or seven vessels volunteered in the search, with coast guard, volunteer marine rescue and swift water rescue assisting.

In 2019, Mr Farraway was voted the Gary Stehbens player of the year in the Northern Districts Rugby league.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area or witnessed the incident to contact authorities.