Police locate body of missing fisherman at Boundary Bay

Police divers have located the body of a fisherman who went missing in a lake in the Central Highlands yesterday. The event has been described as “tragic”.

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UPDATE - 1PM: Family members of a Tasmanian fisherman missing since noon Thursday after attempting to retrieve his boat were on scene as his body was discovered about 11.40am Friday.

Bridgewater Division Acting Inspector Jason Klug said it was a “tragic” end to the search, which involved a helicopter, drones and land and sea resources including police divers.

Members of the public also assisted in the search, which revolved around Great Lake’s Boundary Bay, A/Inspector Klug said.

He said while formal identification was still required, police believed the body to be that of the missing 50-year-old fisherman, from the Sheffield area.

Bridgewater Division Acting Inspector Jason Klug with Sergeant Brad Conyers at Great Lake's Boundary Bay after the discovery at 11.40am Friday of the body of a missing 50-year-old fisherman. Picture: Alex Treacy

Police were originally tasked to Great Lake following a call from a witness saying they had seen the man swim out after his tinny and disappear.

They remained on-scene through the night, scaling the search back up at “first light”.

A/Inspector Klug suggested there were a “number of witnesses” to the man’s last moments, all of whom had been spoken to by police.

From that information, police believe the man swam out from the shoreline in pursuit of his unmoored tinny, which drifted into the water.

Bridgewater Division Acting Inspector Jason Klug with Sergeant Brad Conyers at Great Lake's Boundary Bay after the discovery at 11.40am Friday of the body of a missing 50-year-old fisherman. Picture: Alex Treacy

The boat is in police possession and will form part of the investigation, A/Inspector Klug said.

Family members of the missing man left Boundary Bay at approximately 12.45pm.

A/Inspector Klug stressed it was still “very early” into the investigation. A report will be prepared for the coroner. “Safety factors” will be considered in the investigation.

UPDATE - 12.30PM: Police divers have located the body of a fisherman who went missing in a lake in the Central Highlands yesterday.

Police divers located the man’s body about 11.40am, in the vicinity of Boundary Bay at Great Lake.

While the man’s body has not yet been formally identified, police believe the man is the 50-year-old Sheffield man reported missing yesterday.

A bystander alerted authorities about 12.40pm yesterday about a missing man and police launched a land, sea and air search.

Boundary Bay.

Police located the unmanned boat a short time later.

“Police would like to thank the local community for the support and assistance that was provided during the search effort,” Tasmania Police said in a statement.

“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.”

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

EARLIER: Emergency services crews have this morning returned to Boundary Bay at Great Lake to resume the search for a missing fisherman, who is feared to have drowned.

The search late Thursday was scaled back at sundown, but has resumed again this morning after initial reports a man was seen in the water next to an aluminium boat about 12.40pm on Thursday.

Police have updated the circumstances of the man’s accident.

They believe the 50-year-old Sheffield man was taking a break ashore while on a solo fishing expedition, when his boat floated away.

The man appears to have swum out to the vessel in an attempt to retrieve it.

A bystander alerted authorities about 12:40pm, after the man disappeared from view.

Police have located the boat and returned it to shore, however the man remains unaccounted for.