‘Daughter Appeals for Father’s Return as Boat Goes Missing’

NewsFinale Journal

1 month ago

A search is underway for two men after their boat disappeared off the NSW coast on its way to Queensland.

Share and Follow

The daughter of a man missing off Australia’s east coast has made an emotional plea to help him get home.

The search will resume tomorrow morning for Mangrove Jack, an 8.4-metre catamaran believed to be carrying two men, which left Yamba Harbour in the NSW Northern Rivers region about 8am yesterday.

It was scheduled to arrive at Southport on the Gold Coast about 5pm that same day but never docked.

A search is underway for two men after their boat disappeared off the NSW coast on its way to Queensland. (Supplied)

Emergency services were notified a little more than three hours later and a multi-agency search comprising teams from both states began.

NSW and Queensland police, Marine Rescue Queensland, Surf Life Saving NSW, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority are all involved.

One of the men on board was 69-year-old Phillip Kerswell.

“He was supposed to come home today or tomorrow, but [we] haven’t heard anything,” his daughter Elise Kerswell told 9News.

“Can’t ring him. His phone’s off.”

Ms Kerswell is desperately hoping her father comes home.

“If you see them, contact the police,” she said, her voice cracking.

“Yeah, I just want him to come home.”

Crews were concentrating efforts around Point Danger, Ballina and Brunswick on the NSW side of the border this evening.

The search will resume at first light.