Two bodies found off Kangaroo Island after fishermen reported missing

The death of two Kangaroo Island fishermen, one of whom has been angling since the age of four, has left the local community devastated, the island’s mayor says.

Two men who died off the Kangaroo Island coast were doing what they loved, as the tight-knit community comes to terms with the tragedy.

The men, both aged 65, were long-term locals of Kingscote, and are understood to have been experienced fishermen.

They drowned when their boat capsized off Cape Cassini, on Kangaroo Island’s northern coast, on Wednesday.

A police rescue boat unloads from the Penneshaw Ferry after two bodies were found in waters off KI. Picture: Dasha Havrilenko

The men, both aged 65, were long-term locals to Kingscote, and are understood to have been experienced fishermen. Picture: Dasha Havrilenko

Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly said the death of the men at sea marked “a terribly sad day for Kangaroo Island”.

“We experienced a tragedy last night after losing two of our very local men who were just going about their business,” Mr Pengilly said.

“These men were doing what they loved, earning a living as fishermen, and their loss is deeply felt by all on the island.

“It’s a terrible loss, they were both loved by the community, they were both in their mid-sixties, both professional fisherman, one of them has been fishing since he was four years old.

“They come from longstanding Island families and they’ll be very much mourned.

“All we can do now is gather round and assist those families as much as possible, rally around them, and support them.”

Mr Pengilly was unsure of the exact circumstances that led to the death of the two fisherman but acknowledged there was heavy sea fogs for most of the day on Wednesday.

However, he said that sea fogs were “not uncommon” for Kangaroo Island and they occurred frequently at “various times of the year”.

“The guy driving the boat knows those waters like the back of his hand so it’s just something has gone terribly wrong, and the outcome is very tragic,” he said.

It is not clear if the men were wearing life jackets at the time but Mr Pengilly said the tragic incident served as a timely reminder of the perils of the sea.

“If you’re out on a small boat, you have to wear a life jacket,” he said.

“I think this is a warning for everyone across the state, across Australia, if you’re going out to sea to wear a life jacket. It’s a life preserver.”

It is understood the pair launched just after 2pm on Wednesday. The alarm was raised about two hours later when their boat, a commercial fishing vessel, was found upturned off the coast about 4.15pm.

Local Coast Guard helped emergency services with searching the land and sea while Polair searched from the air, and were able to quickly find the overturned vessel.

Police say SafeWork SA has been notified.

Water operations police will attempt to recover an overturned boat after a fishing trip ended in tragedy off Kangaroo Island. The bodies of two 65-year-old Kingscote men were found and retrieved from the water last night. The alarm was raised when their overturned boat was… pic.twitter.com/sGBdp0h0gi

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) August 15, 2024

The Water Operations Unit will attend the scene on Thursday in an effort to recover the vessel.

The Advertiser understands the men were familiar with the waters around Kangaroo Island, having fished the area for more than 30 years.

A resident in the area told The Advertiser the waters were “calm as, no wind” on Wednesday, but a thick fog rolled in about 4pm.

The resident said it was unusual for the area.

It is understood the pair launched just after 2pm on Wednesday. Picture: 7NEWS

The alarm was raised about two hours later when their boat, a commercial fishing vessel, was found upturned off the coast about 4.15pm. Picture: 7NEWS

“You could not see a thing in the bay or off the coast there due to the sea fog that rolled in,” he said.

Cape Cassini is the northernmost point of Kangaroo Island, and is known for producing salmon for inshore trollers.

Its offshore waters produce snapper, nannygai, blue morwong and other deepwater fish.

The area known as The Caves, just west of the point at Cape Cassini, is a legendary snapper ground.

It is also popular with rock anglers for sweep, trevally, tommies, snapper, salmon and the occasional small yellowtail kingfish.

An experienced fishing operator said there was a big swell on Wednesday before the fog rolled in.

He said, to his knowledge, the two fatalities were the first boating tragedy in those waters.

“It was extremely foggy, but we still don’t know what happened,” he said.

“Maybe it was a wave behind.

“This is the first one, well, ever I think.

“It’s just terrible circumstances.”

It is understood the commercial fisher had worked the waters off Cape Cassini for more than 30 years.

In happier news, a man in his 70s has been located after he went missing on a kayaking trip in the Coorong.

Police said the man departed for his trip along the Coorong, southeast of the Murray Mouth, in the Salt Creek area, on Monday.

Concerns for his welfare were raised on Wednesday, after he had stopped making regular contact. Polair and Water Operations launched a huge search, however, police said they managed to make contact with him about 11pm on Wednesday night and said he was safe.

It comes five months after three people – Paul Eckert, his son Tom Eckert and “dear” family friend Alan Bottrill – died when their 6m boat capsized near Spilsby Island, off Port Lincoln, in March.

Miraculously, there were two survivors: university professor Danny Eckert and his 12-year-old son survived.

Meanwhile, a pilot was taken to hospital with serious lacerations after a gyrocopter crash in the state’s Mid-North on Wednesday afternoon.

It is believed the aircraft collided with a structure and vehicle at Quorn Racecourse, in Quorn.

The pilot was taken to hospital by ambulance but his injuries were thought to be non life-threatening.

Originally published as Two bodies found off Kangaroo Island after fishermen reported missing