Kiama: Search for Nelson and Josh Chan suspended
The desperate search for a Sydney father and son who failed to return home from a fishing trip has been suspended after authorities combed further stretches of the Illawarra and south coast for a third day.
The South Coast News
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There is still no sign of a father and son who are feared to have been washed into the ocean off the Illawarra coast while rock fishing, with the desperate search for the Sydney duo now suspended after three days of searching.
Liverpool pair Nelson Chan, 47, and his 17-year-old son, Josh, last contacted family members on Monday evening, texting “going good” as they made the long trek to Storm Bay, Kiama, for a night rock fishing.
The father and son have not been seen since.
A multi-agency search began in the early hours of Tuesday for the pair, with fears they were swept off rocks by large seas after their fishing gear and a mobile phone was found atop a rock ledge on a notoriously dangerous stretch of coastline.
The desperate search was officially suspended on its third day at 1.30pm on Thursday, with still no sign of the father and son.
NSW Police told this publication the search expanded on Thursday further up and down the south coast, before it was officially suspended.
They said Storm Bay and surrounding waters in Kiama were searched.
A Marine Rescue spokeswoman said they also continued the search before the suspension.
“Marine Rescue NSW rescue vessel Jervis Bay 41 returned to the water at 7am [Thursday] and continued the search under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command until approximately 12.30pm,” she said.
Shattered relatives kept vigil near Storm Bay on Tuesday, where they could be seen wiping away tears and embracing.
Some of Josh’s friends also made the trek to Kiama on Tuesday, where they were seen comforting family members.
Supt Craig Ireland previously said police had “major concerns” for the father and son.
“We are very concerned, it does appear in all likelihood they have been swept off the rocks, there was a large swell last night and a high tide at the time they were fishing,” he said.
“We feel for the family, and we will do our best to locate them.”
South Coast Surf Rescue Officer Wayne Cavanagh said gear such as life jackets were extremely important when fishing in dangerous conditions.
“Fisherpeople need to wear the correct apparatus and without a life jacket, you do not have a good hope of survival if you get washed in,” he said.
The major search, involved officers from Lake Illawarra Police District, Marine Area Command, Police Divers, Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, Polair, Marine Rescue, SES, and Surf Life Saving NSW.
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