Body recovered from beach during search for 68-year-old fisherman

The search for a fisherman whose abandoned dinghy was found ‘circling’ offshore has ended in tragedy after a body was found on a beach.

Police said the body was found on Thursday morning. Picture: WA Police Force

A body has been discovered on a beach during the search for a 68-year-old man whose boat was found “circling” about 10km off the Perth coast.

A beach fisherman spotted the dinghy in Alkimos at 1.45pm on Wednesday and authorities towed the vessel to the Two Rocks marina.

A dog was found on the otherwise abandoned dinghy and a search was immediately launched to find the man who had been on-board.

“During this morning’s search operations, the body of a deceased person, who is believed to be the missing 68-year-old man, was located by members of the search team,” police said in a statement on Thursday.

“The missing man’s family have been notified of this development.”

Volunteers from Marine Rescue Whitfords, Marine Rescue Two Rocks & Fremantle Marine Rescue are currently assisting WA Police with the search off Alkimos which is expected to go well into the night in less than average conditions. pic.twitter.com/X8QyOGPeNR

— Fremantle Sea Rescue (@FreoSeaRescue) March 24, 2021

Senior Sergeant Martin Hopkins told reporters the family were “very upset”.

He said the man was wearing a life jacket at the time and was an experienced fisherman.

“(His) family advised me he often came to this boat ramp and he was out alone yesterday,” the officer said.

“At the moment, I can’t give you any circumstances or theories as to why he ended up in the water.”

The search for the man included scouring the ocean by land, sea and air.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Originally published as Body recovered from beach during search for 68-year-old fisherman