Fears grow for man who reportedly jumped from Beardmore Dam at St George

A drone will be brought into the search for a 45-year-old man who went missing after he reportedly jumped off a Queensland dam wall and failed to resurface. LATEST

Police are working to locate a person who reportedly jumped off the Beardmore Dam wall and failed to resurface

Fears are growing for Ashley Hicks, a 45-year-old St George man who went missing after reportedly jumping off the Beardmore Dam wall and failing to resurface.

A search and rescue operation was launched after Mr Hicks was reported missing about 2pm on Sunday.

Police, SES and firefighters were at the scene until about 9pm, before the search was suspended.

Police divers are helping in the search for Ashley Hicks, a 45-year-old St George man who disappeared at Beardmore Dam on January 12, 2025.

They have resumed operations as of 6am on Monday.

Mr Hicks’ mum, Balonne Shire Councillor Robyn Fuhrmeister, thanked everyone who has helped with the search.

“Everyone is here doing an amazing job,” she said

“We just need to find him.”

A search and rescue operation is under way at Beardmore Dam to locate Ashley Hicks, a 45-year-old St George man who disappeared after he jumped off the dam wall and did not resurface.

Ms Fuhrmeister said her son was planning to swim in the river near her house yesterday afternoon, but was put off by people riding jet skis, so he went to the dam instead.

“Ashley was swimming all the time, he was one of the best swimmers you’d know,” she said.

“He said, ‘Mum, it’ll be safer for me to the go to dam to have a swim’”

“Water wise, this is just a terrible accident.”

A Queensland Fire Department spokesman said a drone pilot would be brought into the search about 8am on Monday.

Queensland Ambulance Service reported paramedics had been dispatched for a missing man at the time.

Beardmore Dam is at capacity, which has complicated the search effort.

According to the initial reports, Mr Hicks attempted to resurface but was caught in a strong current and disappeared.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the police diver and water police had been called in. Police were also searching the dam’s banks.

Police were asking local residents to leave the search up to emergency services, with concerns they were putting themselves in danger in an attempt to help find the missing person.

While St George has been spared the heavy rainfalls that have caused havoc across south east Queensland, Beardmore Dam is still full.

It currently sits at 100.28 per cent capacity, according to SunWater.

Originally published as Fears grow for man who reportedly jumped from Beardmore Dam at St George