Two men from Millicent dead after boat capsizes at Point Connor, south of Beachport
A major search for two people who went missing after a boat capsized near a small SA coastal town has ended in tragedy.
SA News
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Two men have died after their boat capsized in water off the state’s South-East on Monday morning.
Police, ambulance services, SES and CFS were called to a beach near Point Connor, south of Beachport, after a boat had capsized around 11.30am.
Three people from Millicent, a 59-year-old woman and two men aged 82 and 69, were found unresponsive onshore.
The men had died before emergency services arrived, while the woman was taken to Millicent District Hospital.
It is understood the 59-year-old woman was the wife to one of the men, with the trio known to have frequently fished in the same area for the past 30 years.
Police said they will continue to investigate the incident, with help of the Water Operations Unit, but the circumstances are not suspicious.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
As of 6pm on Monday night, the boat was still capsized in the surf, with windy conditions making it hard for authorities to retrieve it.
An excavator was brought in to assist bringing the vessel to shore.
Police cars were seen driving around the beach where the three people were found.
Locals on the beach expressed their sadness at the tragedy.
MP for MacKillop Nick McBride said the tragedy will impact several communities across the South East including the Millicent, Southend and Beachport.
“I understand the trio were experienced and keen amateur fishers who were well known by the fishing community,” Mr Nick McBride said.
“This is a sad reminder of the dangers associated with changing weather conditions that we all must consider when pursuing boating activities.
“I extend my deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the two who tragically died.”
Mount Gambier MP Tony Pasin also expressed his condolences to family and friends of the two men.
“My thoughts are with the Millicent and Beachport communities grieving the loss of two lives at sea today,” Mr Pasin said.
“Having spent time in Beachport and Millicent only yesterday, I know the close knit community will feel this loss deeply but also provide a strong network of support to those most affected by the tragedy.”
Just hours later, a frantic search unfolded for a person reports missing in the water off Henley Beach.
Beachgoers raised the alarm at 1.20pm on Monday, after witnesses said they saw someone in distress in the water before they lost sight of them.
Emergency services, including surf life saving crews, immediately launched a search for the person in the water and along the shoreline.
However at 4pm the search was concluded after no further information or reports or anyone missing was received.
It has been a tragic start to the summer holidays with a spate of drownings, experts are warning more deaths could be on the horizon.
Australia has recorded 43 drowning deaths since December 1.
Dr Will Koon, the national manager of drowning prevention strategy at Royal Life Saving Australia, said the swimming capabilitiesof Australians are not what they used to be.
Dr Koon’s warning comes after a wave of holiday drownings has put the country on track to match last years distrurbing toll.
NSW is leading the pack with 12 fatalities while Queensland is not far behind at 10.
Just this weekend, Victoria saw two major jet ski accidents, with three riders injured after being flung into the water followinga boat collision at Safety Beach, while a similar incident at Rye Beach saw a man pulled dead from the water on Saturday.
In Western Australia, a whole family was destroyed on Friday, December 27 when two heroic parents drowned trying to save their now orphaned daughter at Cliff Beach.
Last summer there was 134 lives lost in the water, averaging at least one drowning a day.
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Originally published as Two men from Millicent dead after boat capsizes at Point Connor, south of Beachport
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