Shaun Daly disappearance: Fresh plea for answers over missing Cairns dive boat worker
The family of a missing FNQ man has spoken of the year-long torment of his mysterious disappearance on a remote Indonesian island “without a single clue of what has happened”.
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The brother of a missing Cairns fisherman who “vanished off this planet” has spoken of the torment of his mysterious disappearance on a remote Indonesian island after a year “without a single clue of what has happened”.
Former Far North commercial diver Shaun Daly, 26, was last seen spearfishing off the coast of the Mentawai Islands.
A lack of concrete evidence and eyewitness accounts has left the family with more questions than answers, according to his brother Martin, who has issued a renewed plea for information.
He trekked to remote villages and islands near the Indonesian coastline on the trail for any clues, including Bali where his brother was a regular visitor, without unearthing a single lead.
He is hoping anyone who was in the company of his brother around the time of his disappearance, believed to be on August 28, 2021, to come forward.
“All I know is he has vanished off this planet,” he said.
“It is just so tough.”
The Indonesian government co-ordinated a search at the time of his disappearance.
It was called off after seven days.
There has been no sign of life since, with his bank accounts untouched.
Mr Daly said he was not satisfied beyond doubt with the theory he had either drowned or suffered an accident while spear fishing near the Mentawai Islands.
“It’s highly likely because he loved spearfishing, but I could never say 100 per cent,” he said.
“Some of the people there liked to get on the piss, and something might have happened. “Anything could have happened to be honest.
“All I can hope for is if someone there knows something they will eventually feel bad enough and contact me or the police.”
Mr Daly, originally from Zimbabwe, was a popular boat worker in Cairns affectionately known as “Frotha”.
It’s believed he was last seen alive about 10am on August 28 after a man on a boat stopped to speak to him at the well-known surfing hot spot.
The Mentawai Islands have some of the most consistent surfing conditions anywhere in the world.
“I’m just hoping eventually someone breaks and provides some answers,” Martin said.
“As to what direction to go I’ve got no idea, he has just absolutely vanished.”
There were over 53,000 missing person reports made to police in Australia last year, of which 2500 have remained missing for more than three months.
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Originally published as Shaun Daly disappearance: Fresh plea for answers over missing Cairns dive boat worker
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