Search for man in Brisbane River at Jindalee

The young man who fell into the Brisbane River early on Sunday was with friends and family when he slipped and was taken by the current, with some injuring themselves trying to save him.

The young man who fell into the Brisbane River in the early hours of Sunday was with friends and family at the time, it has emerged, with some injuring themselves trying to save him.

Police divers joined officers and SES personnel in the search and rescue operation at Jindalee, in Brisbane’s west, after the 23-year-old man fell into the river near the boat ramp around 5.30am and failed to resurface.

Police divers join the search. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

He was with family and friends at the time of the incident and accidentally slipped into the water, Brisbane Region Duty Officer Inspector Shane Thow said.

It is understood the current very rapidly swept him out into the middle of the river.

Insp Thow revealed the man was “not a strong swimmer”.

“I know that a couple of his mates actually tried to help him, but he slipped below the waters before they got to him,” Insp Thow said.

A man in his 20s was taken to Queen Elizabeth II Hospital with shoulder injuries after diving into the river in an attempt to help the missing man.

A marine rescue and SES team arrived to the boat ramp with two extra search vessels.

Police arrived on the scene around 5.40am, deploying general duty officers and later patrol boats to search for the man.

Insp Thow said on arrival first response crews worked with members of the public who were called “within minutes” and quickly started searching for the man using private motor vessels.

“That level of commitment was built upon very, very shortly afterwards by members of the Queensland Fire Department Swift Water Rescue teams, along with the water police, our dive teams, State Emergency Service personnel, and Marine Rescue,” he said.

“That search is underway and will continue.”

A group of family and friends gather at the pontoon.

Two police boats were scouring the river mid-morning, with detectives and other officers on the shoreline.

A police helicopter joined in on the search operation Sunday afternoon, flying low along the river bank, as more family and friends gathered in the area.

The group was visibly emotional as they hugged each other.

Police boats in the river near where a man fell in. Several people, including those believed to be relatives of the missing man, watch on. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The boats as of 9am had focused their search area to the end pontoon, moving downstream and around the river bend towards the city.

Police were also using drones to help in the search.

Two sets of paramedics were also on standby, with a marine rescue and SES team arriving by 9.45am to the boat ramp with two extra search vessels.

Friends and family wait for news. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Police divers started gearing up on the shoreline to enter the water just after 10am.

Insp Thow said thoughts and prayers were with the family of the 23-year-old, who is understood to be from a suburb in the south side.

“The family are obviously struggling at this point in time as well, to be expected,” he said.

He went on to say search efforts went a “fair way” down the river, and despite recent heavy rainfall it had not hindered search efforts.

Police search the area. Picture Lyndon Mechielsen

Insp Thow said the young man and the group were on the pontoon for a “social engagement”, but could not speculate on whether alcohol was involved.

“It’s just an unfortunate accident that he slipped, there is no indication that they were mucking around.”

Police at the scene. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

A man who lived across from the boat ramp told The Courier-Mail he did not hear any commotion Saturday night, but the pontoon was a popular spot with “kids” who went there at night and sometimes fished.

He said that it was a quiet area usually, and those who did fish at night were generally well-behaved and caused “no trouble”, only occasionally playing loud music.

More to come

Originally published as Search for man in Brisbane River at Jindalee