Search for Jack Bird at Lake Mulwala enters fourth day

Hopes have all but vanished for a missing teenager who fell overboard while fishing on the Victorian and NSW border over the weekend.

Poor weather conditions have restricted police’s ability to search under water for Shepparton teenager Jack Bird, who fell overboard while fishing with a friend at Lake Mulwala over the weekend.

At about 9am on Sunday a wave swept Jack and a friend from their tinny while they were fishing on the Lake, located on the NSW and Victorian border, with Jack reportedly disappearing underwater about 200m from the shore.

An onlooker was able to rescue Jack’s friend with a flotation device.

Shepparton teenager Jack Bird is feared drowned after he fell overboard while fishing on Lake Mulwala on Sunday. Picture: Simon Dallinger

On Wednesday, Victoria Police told NCA Newswire the search had continued with boat crew, mapping and aerial searches.

But they said due to poor weather conditions, police were unable to dive underwater.

Victoria Police also said they had handed primacy of the search efforts to NSW Police.

Police say their search for Jack Bird, 16, has been hampered by poor weather.

The Herald Sun reported on Wednesday police were scouring beneath tied-up boats, while two family members, one with a pair of binoculars, were searching among reeds and trees.

Lake Mulwala is a popular fishing and water sport destination about four hours north of Melbourne.

On Monday, Senior Sergeant Nathan Ratcliffe said police had found the search “extremely difficult.”

“The weather conditions today and the next couple of days aren’t very favourable to assist police, but we’re doing everything we can to locate the male,” Senior Sergeant Ratcliffe said.

NSW Police were contacted for comment.

Originally published as Search for Jack Bird at Lake Mulwala enters fourth day