Harbour search for tech high-flyer after art dealer mate found dead

Police are winding down their search for missing tech entrepreneur Andrew Findlay and have explained what they believe occurred in Thursday’s boating accident, which claimed the life of top Sydney art dealer Tim Klingender. READ WHAT HAPPENED

The large eastern suburbs ocean search for missing tech entrepreneur Andrew Findlay is being scaled back as police turn their efforts from rescue to recovery.

Police on Saturday afternoon revealed the timeline of events leading to Thursday’s boating accident, which claimed the life of top Sydney art dealer Tim Klingender and from which Mr Findlay went missing.

They said neither of the men was wearing a life jacket, despite bad weather conditions at the time of their trip.

Police said the two friends set off in their high-end Brig fishing boat on Thursday using the trolling method, meaning their fishing rods were launched from the rear while the boat kept travelling ahead.

Their trip began about 7.30am with them heading south from Sydney Heads towards Bondi.

Missing man Andrew Findlay.

Art dealer Tim Klingender’s body was found in Sydney Harbour on Thursday. Picture: John Appleyard

The large swell and dangerous sea conditions pushed the boat up onto rocks and the two men are believed to have been thrown from the boat, Superintendent Joe McNulty said.

The accident happened so quickly there was no time to call for help.

“This is a tragic accident that could have been avoided,” he said.

“Both men were not wearing life jackets … I’m sorry to say those lives were lost.”

After three days of searching, police are still looking for Andrew Findlay, however will scale down their operation on Saturday afternoon.

“We are at the conclusion now that we are wrapping this search up — the time frame for survival for anyone in the water, taking into account the temperatures at the moment in July, have lapsed yesterday,” Supt McNulty said.

Police are scaling back their search of Sydney’s coast around South Head, which has been carried out in rough conditions. Picture: Monique Harmer

Surf Life Saving jetskis have been called off, and a scaled down police search will continue.

The men’s boat is wedged between rocks below Jacobs Ladder at South Head, with continuing dangerous conditions preventing police from recovering the evidence.

Mr Findlay is well known in Sydney’s eastern suburbs celebrities circles.

He has three small children with his ex-partner Lizzie Kemp, the former wife of cricket great Brett Lee. They separated some time ago.

His tight-knit group of friends includes Erika Heynatz and husband Andrew Kingston, Sydney-based contemporary artist Daimon Downey and Sneaky Sound System’s Angus McDonald and Connie Mitchel.

The group are said to be shattered, “rocked to the core”, in a state of disbelief.

Downey, Heynatz and Kingston were expected to celebrate with Shelley Sullivan, owner of ModelCo, for her 50th birthday at her home in Vaucluse on Saturday night but Downey has now cancelled in light of the tragedy.

He has three small children with ex-partner Lizzie Kemp, who was formerly married to cricketer Brett Lee.

Model and television personality Erika Heynatz is a close friend of Findlay’s.

Artist Daimon Downey is also a mate. Picture: Ashleigh Larden

Angus McDonald and Connie Mitchell are part of the same social circle. Picture: Raegan Glazner

“He was just one of those larger than life friendly personalities that everyone adored,” one devastated close friend said.

On Saturday morning, helicopters from PolAir were scouring the coastline from the tip of South Head near Watsons Bay to Cape Solander near the Shire in an effort to locate any signs of the 51-year-old businessman.

This afternoon’s operations will see the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, surf lifesavers across the eastern beaches, Marine Rescue NSW and the NSW Police marine command searching the entirety of the city’s east coast.

At this stage police believe the men were on a fishing trip outside Sydney heads on Thursday when tragedy struck.

Police are searching for Sydney tech entrepreneur Andrew Findlay after Tim Klingender’s body was found off the rocks at Watsons Bay. Picture: Monique Harmer

They suspect the men’s 7.8m Brig boat malfunctioned before crashing into rocks near The Gap.

Debris from the boat was found in the water near where Mr Klingender’s body was found.

Mr Klingender, 59, was a world leader in the dealing of Australian Indigenous art and founded an Indigenous art department at Sotheby’s, one of the world’s most prolific brokers of fine art.

PolAir spent Saturday morning searching the water off Sydney’s eastern beaches and cliffs. Picture: Monique Harmer

He leaves behind wife Skye McCardle and two teenage children. Mr Klingender’s wife Skye was in Nepal when news of her husband’s death broke, and is understood to be travelling back to Sydney on Friday.

The art world has reacted with an outpouring of grief and tributes, remembering their esteemed colleague as a warm friend and dedicated lover of art.

“I am so thankful for the time we all spent recently with you in New York Tim,” close friend and fellow art dealer D’lan Davidson said.

“Together we laughed, we drank way too much but most importantly of all, we were there together for one sure thing — to support each other for benefit of what we all believe in — the important art of this great nation. See you in heaven.”

Police and lifesavers search the scene below the cliffs at Watsons Bay on Friday. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Mr Klingender established his own business, Tim Klingender Fine Art in 2009, and was known in the industry for his strong ethical standard around art dealing.

When working at Sotheby’s he was one of the first to report Melbourne couple Pamela and Ivan Liberto for forging Indigenous art, who were later jailed over the art fraud.

“Tim was quick to laugh. First in on adventure and always up for a chat,” Southern Highlands gallery director Michael Reid said on Friday.

“Deeply understanding of the fine and decorative arts, Tim was an interior stylist as much as an important art dealer.”

“Vale Tim Klingender,” Harper’s BAZAAR Australia fashion news director Patty Huntington wrote.

“A giant in the Australian art world, notably in the Australian Indigenous art sector.”

The search was suspended for the night at 5pm Friday before beginning again on Saturday morning. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Mystery surrounds the death of the beloved art dealer.

The missing man is believed to be a friend who joined Mr Klingender for a fishing trip.
The police search has yet to recover any trace of the missing man, with officers on Friday searching the waters of the eastern suburbs and climbing cliff faces for any signs of the man.

The search was suspended on Friday night and is expected to resume on Saturday morning.

Police are now looking into how Mr Klingender’s fishing boat, a 7.8m Brig, ended up being found as debris in the water.

Detectives are probing whether the boat had a mechanical fault and crashed into rocks near The Gap in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Mr Klingender’s body was found naked just after 10am on Thursday.