‘Made our world a better place’: Tributes flow as police prepare to take search underwater for Thomas Courto

Friends and family are remembering two mates that were tragically found dead off Tasmania’s North West Coast as police prepare to take their search underwater for their missing friend.

The family and friends of two beloved mates who tragically died after a day out on the water continue to share tributes as police prepare to take their search underwater for their missing friend.

The Westpac Rescue chopper and a police vessel searched the Wynyard coastline for Thomas Courto and the trio’s missing boat on Sunday after the bodies of Isaiah Dixon and Bree-Anne Thomas were found washed ashore near Fossil Bluff on Wednesday.

Westpac search and rescue helicopter. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Tasmania Police will bring in underwater sonar and divers to ramp up search efforts on Monday, with loved ones hoping for a miracle.

“Tasmania Police have sought the services of an underwater surveyor who will provide a multi-beam sonar which will hopefully enable us to locate the missing vessel,” Inspector Steve Jones said.

“It’ll search around 320 hectares of underwater area that we suspect the missing boat is in … and Thomas as well.”

It’s now been a week since the boating buddies took off for a day out and never returned to their loving families.

Isaiah’s sister, Gitana Dixon took to social media to express her heartbreak and gratitude for the tight-knit community in the North West who had rallied behind the trio’s family and friends.

“I am trying to find the strength to live in this world without you but I know if love could have saved you, you would have walked on water home to us,” she said.

“I know what it feels like to love someone more than you love yourself but unfortunately I also now know what a truly broken heart feels like I will try my hardest to do what you would want us to do but it’s going to be the hardest battle of our lives.”

Isaiah Dixon. Picture: Facebook

Bree-Anna Thomas. Pic: Facebook.

Owner of Wynyard’s The Wharf Hotel Khyle Frost also took a moment to remember his old friend affectionately describing the 23-year-old as one of his favourite customers.

“The army of friends and support you have Isaiah is testament to the impact you had on every person you touched and I’m honoured to have grown up with you in this place we call home.” “There will always be a beer for you on our bar. I miss your face mate.”

The beloved watering hole was where Bree-Anna Thomas worked as Operations Manager for the past six months and was known by colleagues as a ‘beacon for hospitality’.

“Bree-Anna was our future,” Frost said.

“[She] reminded me that work can be a happy place.”

“Her vitality and energy, her love for life is pretty much the only thing getting me out of bed in the morning.”

“She truly, made our world a better place.”

“I am a better person for having known her.”

Underwater sonar to aid search for Thomas

POLICE will bring in an underwater sonar on Monday to try to find a missing boat and the last of its three passengers as a massive air and sea search continues off Wynyard.

It will then be a week since three boating buddies – 23-year-old Isaiah Dixon, 26-year-old Thomas Courto and Bree-Anna Thomas – took off for a day out and never returned to their loving families that continue to hold a vigil at the Wynyard boat ramp.

Thomas Courto is missing at sea off the North West coast. Source: Facebook.

Isaiah and Bree-Anna were found washed onshore near Fossil Bluff on Wednesday.

Thomas is still missing and the Wynyard community are praying for a miracle.

“Tasmania Police have sought the services of an underwater surveyor who will provide a multi-beam sonar which will hopefully enable us to locate the missing vessel,” Inspector Steve Jones said.

the floral tribute in Wynyard's main street

“It’ll search around 320 hectares of underwater area that we suspect the missing boat is in … and Thomas as well.”

“It’s an excellent resource for Tasmania Police to use.

“If conditions had been more favourable, we would have had the divers in today, or yesterday … but it hasn’t been favourable.”

A floral tribute wall in the town’s main street continues to grow as hearts go out to the grieving families and local businesses are delivering food to those who are waiting for news.

“They were very happy all together,” Isaiah’s uncle John-Paul Dixon said.

“They were planning to go out for a bit of a fun day.

“They had a swim in front of a waterfall and sat on the beach, had a beautiful day … it’s just come to a tragic end.”

Police have asked that concerned locals keep off the water today and do not launch drones when the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is in the area.