Queensland father Ash Haigh identified as fisherman missing off Gold Coast
Rescuers hope the man missing for more than 24 hours was wearing a lifejacket.
The desperate search for a Queensland father and husband continues after his boat was found empty out at sea.
Experienced fisherman Ash Haigh, 44, from Hollywell set out in his vessel from the Gold Coast Seaway about 6.30am on Thursday to go fishing for marlin.
The black half-cabin pleasure craft successfully booked on with the tower but failed to book off about 5pm, prompting authorities to alert Water Police about 7 pm.
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When Haigh failed to return several hours later, police were called, with searches of the surrounding areas and seaways, as well as attempts to make contact with the vessel over the radio, continuing into the night.
About 2am on Friday, his boat The Grey Ghost was found 25 nautical miles southeast of the seaway with no one onboard.
Rescue operations began again in earnest on Friday with a Challenger rescue plane called in from Cairns making loops from as far north as North Stradbroke Island and as far south as Kingscliff.
A jet was deployed from Melbourne to join the search.
At least four search and rescue helicopters and eight boats were also deployed in the search, covering areas as far south as Pottsville.
A dedicated member of the Gold Coast Game Fishing Club and former president, Haigh, is an experienced fisherman with club members out looking for him.
His car parked just as Haigh left it to reel in the ocean’s most powerful and prized fish.
“There were four life jackets on the vessel. However, we’ve only located three,” Acting Senior Sergeant Shannon Gray said.
Now that is what’s giving everyone hope, that Haigh is wearing a life jacket, which would increase his chances of survival.
Investigators are trying to work out whether he was pulled overboard by a marlin which can weigh 200kg, and even smaller fish have been known to drag a grown man out to sea.
The Game Fishing Club told 7NEWS they are throwing absolutely everything into this search and supporting the missing man’s family.
Originally published on 7NEWS
