Mother and son missing after three-day boat voyage off Frankston
A man and his 83-year-old mother are feared dead after they set out on a three-day boat voyage — but mystery surrounds why the pair set sail in such a small vessel and why it took family so long to notify police they were missing.
VIC News
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Police investigating a mysterious voyage that left an elderly mother and son missing, feared dead, are questioning why the pair would set out for days in such a small, unsuitable boat.
Marine investigators hold deep “concerns” over the trip and why it took family so long to notify police that Felicity Loveday, 83, and Adrian Meneveau, 56, were missing.
The Frankston mum and son left from Olivers Hill boat ramp in Frankton early last Wednesday, telling family they would be on the boat for up to three days.
The vessel was found submerged in water four days later off the coast of Ricketts Point – more than 20km from the launch site – and extensive sea and air searches have failed to find any signs of life.
It has emerged the tinny was purchased just weeks ago by Mr Meneveau, who lives with and is his mum’s primary carer.
She suffers from severe dementia.
Their home was examined by police and a forensic analysis of the boat will be conducted as part of the ongoing missing persons probe.
Marine Investigation Unit Senior Constable Chris Obst said little information has surfaced about the mother and son’s travel plans.
He said the boat was “definitely not” designed for sleeping in, and it “concerns” him that a decision was made to put a frail elderly woman aboard it for days.
“Why an 83-year-old woman was put on that boat is the first question that’s been raised,” he said.
“Police were notified so late in the piece (that they were missing) which has made it hard for us to pinpoint locations and where to search.
“We don’t know their plan or movements in the days after launching.
“The boat is definitely not designed with a sleeping quarters. It’s an open boat with no cover.”
Investigators are desperately appealing for witnesses who saw the pair or their boat, registration ER422, or have CCTV footage of Port Phillip Bay to come forward.
Police were first notified that the mum and son were feared to be missing at sea on Saturday by Ms Loveday’s daughter, who last heard from her brother via text a day earlier.
The text informed that he and his mother were having a good time.
The daughter held concerns about the trip but they were “alleviated” by the text message, said Sen Con Obst.
She saw off her mum and brother at the boat ramp on Wednesday, taking a photo of them wearing life jackets.
The photo, given to police, appears to show little equipment, such as sleeping gear, on board the boat.
Investigators are looking into Mr Meneveau’s marine background and why it took so long for police to be notified that they were missing.
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Sen Con Obst believed there was no chance the pair were still alive.
Water Police, Search and Rescue, the Air Wing and Coast Guard have conducted extensive searches of Port Phillip Bay, including the western side near Queenscliff and Portarlington, without success since Saturday.
“The feeling is now that it is more of a recovery than a rescue,” said Sen Con Obst.
“At this phase of a search and if someone is in the water for this period of time, their chance of survival is nil.”