This was published 4 years ago
Search scaled back for missing diver off central Queensland
By Toby Crockford and Michael Doyle
The search has been scaled back for a diver who disappeared while returning from an overnight trip with two friends off the central Queensland coast on Saturday.
It comes after a five-day search involving a helicopter, water police and volunteer marine rescue vessels scanning the water as well as police officers and SES volunteers scouring the coastline.
On Wednesday, police announced the search off the town of Elliott Heads in the Bundaberg region was being scaled back after no sign of the 38-year-old man in hundreds of nautical miles of sea.
The competent diver and spearfisherman was reported missing about 8am on Saturday by the skipper of the six-metre vessel he had been on, about 14 nautical miles off the coast.
The missing Bundaberg man decided to have one last dive on his way back to shore with his friends and when his mates resurfaced there was no sign of the man.
Authorities believe the diver may have suffered a medical event or shallow-water blackout - when a diver does not have enough oxygen for the dive.
Police officers and surf lifesavers will continue shore patrols between Burnett Heads and Innes Park.
The man’s family has been notified of the decision to scale back the search.
- with AAP