Desperate search underway for man after empty boat found in waters off NSW south coast

A wide scale search for a fisherman whose empty boat was found drifting in the water on Friday will resume on Monday after authorities were forced to abandon their efforts due to challenging conditions.

A wide scale search for man whose empty fishing boat was found drifting off the NSW South Coast has been forced to end early due to unfavourable weather conditions but as authorities aren’t giving up hope.

Wollongong father Tony Andeliero, 61, had set off from Port Kembla about 8am on Friday, with emergency services called to Windang Island near Warilla about 6.40pm to reports his 4m Quintrex aluminium boat had been spotted empty in the water.

Tony Andeliero has been named as the fisherman missing off the NSW South Coast.

The man is believed to have been alone on the fishing boat before he went missing. Picture: NSW Marine Rescue.

Police, Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW and Polair launched a search for the man on Friday night, which has continued into Sunday.

It’s understood Mr Andeliero was alone on the boat and he hasn’t been seen since Friday.

The search, which has been conducted over the last three days, was forced to be abandoned at 2.4pm on Sunday due to changing weather and unfavourable searching conditions.

The search will resume at 8am on Monday, and will include police officers, Marine Area Command, Polair, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving Club and SES members.

His vehicle and empty boat trailer were found in the Port Kembla boat ramp car park before the air and sea search ceased about 1am on Saturday.

Foot patrols have also been carried out, however the man has not yet been found.

Mr Andeliero’s daughter Kayla told 7News he was an experienced fisherman, who had spent a lot of time in the waters where he had set off from.

“He’s a really good fisherman, he’s been doing it since he was a child,” she said.

“We just want him to be found.”

Mr Andeliero’s daughter Kayla told 7News her father was an experienced fisherman.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers were tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to assist in the search at 8am Saturday. Picture: Marine Rescue NSW.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Stuart Massey confirmed Marine Rescue NSW volunteers were tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to assist in the search at 8am Saturday.

“Marine Rescue NSW vessels Port Kembla 31 and Shellharbour 30 and Port Kembla Jet skis were deployed to assist NSW Water Police with parallel search patterns from Flagstaff Point to Bass Point,” Inspector Massey said.

However, marine rescue volunteers were stood down about 2.30pm on Saturday due to deteriorating conditions and increasing wind causing a lot of chop on the surface.

NSW Water Police will continue to search an area off the Illawarra coast after volunteers were stood down on Saturday afternoon due to deteriorating conditions. Picture: Marine Rescue NSW

Originally published as Desperate search underway for man after empty boat found in waters off NSW south coast