Hope is fading for two Victorian families after a desperate search for a missing fisherman in South Australian waters was officially called off. The decision came days after the body of his best friend was tragically recovered.
Holiday Fishing Trip Turns to Tragedy
Best friends Ian Matheson, 67, and Garry Twentyman, 74, were on a holiday fishing trip near Cape Jaffa, approximately 315km south of Adelaide. On Tuesday, the pair had been out collecting cray pots from their boat.
The alarm was raised around 4pm on Tuesday when the two men failed to return as expected. Also onboard their vessel was one of the men's beloved dog, Archer.
Intensive Search Operation Launched
Police immediately initiated a major search and rescue operation. The effort involved Water Operations officers, State Emergency Service (SES) personnel, and a police helicopter scouring the area.
Tragically, the search took a devastating turn only hours after it began. The body of Ian Matheson was recovered from the water.
Despite an intensive three-day search covering both air and sea, there has been no sign of the boat, Garry Twentyman, or the dog Archer.
Search Focus Shifts to Land
Authorities made the difficult decision on Wednesday to conclude the active water-based search. The operation's focus has now shifted to a land-based effort.
For the next few days, a ground search will remain in operation along the coastline. Police are urgently asking the public for assistance. Anyone who sees anything unusual washed ashore is requested to contact police immediately.
The families of both men, from Victoria, now face an agonising wait as the hope of finding Garry Twentyman alive continues to diminish.
