Chris Garrett: Colleagues of missing spear fisherman extend ‘deepest sympathies’ to his family
There has been a major development in the search for a Mid-North Coast accountant after he was named as the man missing in a tragic spear fishing incident.
Mid-North Coast
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Colleagues have rallied behind the family of a popular Kempsey accountant and fisherman, Chris Garrett who has been named as the man missing in waters off the coast of South West Rocks.
In a LinkedIn post shared by Wrights Chartered Accountant, Kelly Wade, the Kempsey firm confirmed on Wednesday the tragic news regarding their colleague and extended their “deepest sympathies and support” to the family during this “traumatic time”.
Mr Garrett, 52, has not been seen since he was spear fishing with his son on Thursday, February 4 at Leggars Point.
Police made the tragic decision on Wednesday to call off the search, and confirmed that unless any new information becomes available, it would not be resumed.
Ms Wade said it was with “deep regret” that the firm, where Mr Garrett was a partner, informed the community of the “presumed” and tragic death of their “partner and friend”.
“It is with deep regret that we write to inform you that our partner and friend, Chris Garrett, remains missing, presumed deceased,” the post read.
“Our deepest sympathies and support are with Chris’ wife Tania and his two sons Jake and Nick at this traumatic time.
“The Garrett family would like to extend their tremendous gratitude to the hard working rescue team who have helped in the search for Chris.”
Craig Ashdown, a member of the Coffs Harbour Fly Fishers, said he met Mr Garrett about 34 years ago and their friendship blossomed over their shared love of the sport.
“With both have family in Coffs Harbour so we would regularly spend time around Ebor [fly fishing],” he posted in the fly fishers’ Facebook group.
“We fly fished for bass in Sydney together, and when he moved to Melbourne we would meet at Kosciusko National Park for weekends of camping and fly fishing.
“There was also the cloudy winter sessions in the inner harbour at Coffs catching blackfish on fly while throwing sand in the water to stir the fish up.
“Christmas Island will always be a memorable trip, plus numerous trips to NZ central North Island.
“All of us here probably have friendships based around fly fishing, that always grow to be so much more, as was my friendship with Chris.”
Divers from Coffs Harbour Water Police and the Marine Rescue Area Command were deployed on Wednesday to comb beneath the surface of Leggars Point, South West Rocks, where a large search had already been conducted on land, on water and in the air.
They where down for most of the daylight hours on Wednesday morning, before their search concluded shortly after midday.
South West Rocks Police Supervisor Paul Martyn told the Mid-North Coast that unless new information became available, there would be no further resources committed to the 52-year-old’s recovery.
“Right now efforts to search and recover have been called off,” he said.
“There will be no redeployment of any resources unless any fresh information comes to light, which includes possible sightings or things washed up on shore that might spark redeployment.
“But at this time of talking, there will no further redeployments.”
Police will now prepare a report for the coroner.
“At this stage, this person is still a missing person and that’s all we know,” Mr Martyn said.
“We will now make contact with the coroner and prepare a report and they’ll make a determination based on the evidence at hand whether they will call the person deceased or not.
“That’s the only authority who can make that determination.”
Wednesday’s news concluded six days of rigorous searching led by police and the NSW Marine Rescue Area Command.
Other agencies included NSW Ambulance, NSW Surf Lifesaving, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and local lifeguards.
On Monday, Police Inspector Martin Burke issued an appeal to anyone who ‘still might have any information into his whereabouts.’
The missing man was last seen wearing a camouflaged patterned, blue and green wetsuit, yellow-tipped snorkel and one black flipper.
Police said both the father and son, whose age has not been given, were pushed onto rocks by a large incoming wave, however the older man was swept back into the water a short time later.
The size of the search canvassed about 1000sq km of ocean.
Surf Life Saving NSW reported that there have been 27 coastal drownings since 1 July 2020 — with six fatalities since January 1, 2021.
Ms Wade confirmed that a number of organisations, including surf life saving Mid-North Coast, SES South West Rocks, and Marine Rescue (Trial Bay and Port Macquarie) are now taking donations on behalf of the Garrett family.
“We also have a condolences book at out office located at 59 Smith Street, Kempsey, where we welcome you to come and contribute your messages of support for the family, or tributes to Chris,” she wrote.
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