Tasmania breaking news: Man drowns after boat capsizes in rough water, another man rescued

A man has had to swim for over an hour and a half to make it back to land after his dinghy capsized in southern Tasmanian waters, with his neighbour and friend sadly drowning. What we know.

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UPDATE, 3.11pm: Police have confirmed a 62-year-old Clarendon Vale man was the person found deceased in waters off of South Arm on Friday morning.

Tasmania Police Clarence Division Inspector Andrew Keane said the two men had been fishing early in the morning near Fort Direction when their motor failed and their aluminium dinghy boat between five to six metres long was capsized.

“He was able to swim to shore, but the other male was still missing,” he said.

“As a result of that, we have attended the Fort Direction area and deployed resources.

“We were very readily assisted by volunteers form local community and recreational and commercial fisherman as well. Unfortunately, our helicopter found the body of the deceased male near the cliffs of Fort Direction.”

The male who made it to shore had to swim for 90 minutes to reach the beach where he raised the alarm with locals.

The other male police believe is a neighbour and friend of the victim.

“They obviously went out early in the morning to catch fish for Easter and then things have gone wrong,” Inspector Keane said.

“That area is known for having rough weather there where surfers quite like the area.

“We had considerable trouble getting our own vessels in there and have not been able to remove the capsized vessel yet.

“The man’s body had to be retrieved via the helicopter.”

The deceased male was not wearing a life jacket while the man who made it to shore was, which will form a part of the police’s investigation once all debris has been recovered.

Man dies after boat capsizes in southern Tasmania.

12.10pm: A man has been found deceased in waters off of the southern Tasmanian coast on Friday, following a boat capsizing in the early morning.

Police earlier said they were called to Roaring Beach off of South Arm at around 8.45am after reports a boat had experienced engine failure and was struck by large waves.

Two men were on board the boat at the time of the incident.

Police stated one man was able to return to shore safely before raising the alarm. and he was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

Police said the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, police and civilian vessels searched the area for the missing man who was sadly located along with the overturned boat about 9.40am.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Man rescued from state’s southwest while police search for man fallen overboard in south

April 11, 9.40am: A man has been winched to safety from a southwest wilderness track while another remains unaccounted for in waters off the southeast coast.

Police are searching for a man in the area of Roaring Beach at South Arm after the boat he was onboard capsized in the early morning of Friday.

Police said one man also onboard the boat managed to swim to shore safely and raised the alarm at around 8.45am, with police vessels and other officers out trying to locate the missing man.

In Hobart, one man is recovering in hospital on Friday morning after getting stuck overnight on the Mount Anne Track in Southwest National Park.

Police said that at around 10.15pm last night, police received a request for assistance from a man on the Mount Anne Track.

Ground crews, assisted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, were deployed to the area and the man was sighted on a ridgeline around 7.55am.

Rider seriously injured after crash with vehicle on rural road

1.30pm: Paramedics are treating a rider after a crash between a motorcycle and a car in the state’s northwest.

Police said the rider was reportedly seriously injured from the incident in Beulah Rd, Beulah, a small rural town south of Sheffield.

Officers have advised motorists to avoid the area until the scene is cleared.

Pedestrian hit by vehicle overnight

UPDATE 11.40am: An elderly man, who was hit by a vehicle while crossing the road with a woman, remains in a critical condition at hospital, police confirm.

Emergency services were alerted to the serious crash in Davey St near the intersection of Hunter St just before 8pm on Tuesday.

Officers believe the 75-year-old man and 73-year-old woman were crossing the road just down from the traffic lights when the incident occurred.

Police said the vehicle had been travelling along Davey St.

Paramedics treated the man at the scene before taking him to the Royal Hobart Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

Officers said the woman was not physically injured but was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Two lanes of Davey St were blocked for 2.5 hours while investigations were carried out.

Police urge any witnesses or anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to contact police.

Pedestrian reportedly hit by a vehicle on Tuesday night on Davey St in Hobart's CBD.

April 9, 10.30am: A pedestrian was hit by a vehicle on Davey St near the Grand Chancellor Hotel last night, police confirmed.

Emergency services responded to the incident after 8pm on Tuesday.

At that time, police said a man was believed to have sustained serious injuries.

Officers said specialist resources had been dispatched to the scene to assist the emergency.

The incident closed two lanes of Davey St with traffic diverted onto Evans St.

The scene was not cleared until 4.30am on Wednesday.

Man dies in hospital following single-vehicle crash

4.20pm: A male truck driver has died following a single-vehicle crash in Launceston on Tuesday.

Police were called to the scene of the incident on Bathurst Street in Launceston after a truck went through a barrier and into the Royal Park Skate Park at around 12.15pm.

Police said the man was given medical assistance at the scene and transported to the Launceston General Hospital, where he later died.

Police said they remain at the scene of a crash as investigations continue, including whether the crash was the result of a medical episode.

Police ask that motorists avoid the Bathurst Street area until further notice or anticipate delays.

Man charged with allegedly assaulting woman twice

April 8, 11.15am: Police have charged a 31-year-old man with assault following isolated incidents at two locations on Sunday night, officers confirmed.

Police alleged the man assaulted a woman known to him at two homes, one in Granton and the other South Hobart.

The alleged victim was treated in hospital for her injuries and has since been discharged, police said on Tuesday.

The accused has been detained to appear before the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Meanwhile in Tasmania’s north, police are calling for information following an alleged shooting at Rocherlea.

Police said they received a report that a firearm had been discharged into a home on Russell Plains, Rd about 6.30am on Sunday.

Several people were inside the property at the time, however no one was injured, police said.

Witnesses reported seeing a silver Peugeot 207 leaving the area.

Police said initial information suggested that the incident was targeted and were investigating the matter further.

Anyone in the area around the time, who witnessed suspicious activity or has dashcam/CCTV footage of the silver Peugeot, is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania.

Man allegedly attempted to dodge police conducting breatho testing

2pm: Police accuse a 29-year-old Warrane man of racking up multiple drink driving charges since late December.

The latest incident, police allege, the man attempted to evade officers conducting a random breath test in St Helens just after midnight on Sunday.

Inspector Luke Manhood believed the man fled on foot before being caught by officers, alleging the driver returned a reading of 0.095.

The accused was charged with evading police, drink driving, driving while disqualified and his vehicle clamped for 28 days.

“This is the third time in recent months the man has been apprehended for similar offences on Tasmania’s East Coast,” Inspector Manhood said.

“On 31 December 2024 the man was apprehended by police on the Esk Highway, Fingal where he returned a reading of 0.122 and was charged with evading police, stating a false name, speeding, driving with a suspended licence, and exceeding 0.05.

“Then on 25 January 2025 he was intercepted by St Helens Police where he returned a reading of 0.088, was charged with exceeding 0.05 and driving with a suspended licence.

“This type of dangerous and repeat behaviour is unacceptable and places the community at serious risk.

“This pattern of behaviour may result in significant legal consequences.”

He reminded anyone who drinks and drives that it’s only a matter of time before you get caught.

Anyone who witnesses dangerous driving or suspects someone may be driving under the influence is urged to contact police on 131 444, or triple-0 (000) in an emergency.

Young man dead in fatal early morning crash

April 6, 8.15am: Police have confirmed a young man has tragically died following a fatal crash at Mount Direction in the state’s northeast.

Emergency services were reportedly responding to the incident on Sunday just after 2am at Old Bangor Tram Road.

Police have confirmed the man in his 20s, who was a passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene.

Officers said the driver had been taken to the Launceston General Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Police confirmed a report would be prepared for the Coroner.

Motorists have been asked to avoid the scene of the crash — with the incident closing the road between Dalrymple Rd and Piper River Rd — this morning while investigations remain underway.

Originally published as Tasmania breaking news: Man drowns after boat capsizes in rough water, another man rescued