In truly astounding news, one of the fishermen who spent days lost at sea earlier this month has once again gotten himself into strife in the ocean, sparking a second search rescue effort for the missing SA man.
Barely two weeks after a five-day search for Goolwa man Tony Higgins in waters of the SA coast, authorities are now searching for the man again after he sent out a distress signal on Tuesday morning. He told police that his 10-metre-long wooden boat – that he had been living on for the last fortnight – was taking on water.
NEW PICTURES: The search has resumed for missing boatie Tony Higgins, with the rescue helicopter crew scouring coastline on the Victor Harbor to Coorong coastline. Full coverage @9NewsAdel 5pm & 6pm pic.twitter.com/MIAh1qQT6e
— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) September 22, 2020
Local authorities and volunteers spent hours yesterday searching the area for potential signs of Higgins and his boat – known as The Margrel – extending late into the night, with the use of infrared equipment.
Rough conditions yesterday, including 50km/h winds and driving rain, forced local volunteers to stop their search rescue around the Encounter Bay area for the missing SA man. Search efforts have resumed again this morning, with the search rescue helicopter combing along the Coorong coastline and Victor Harbor area.
As per the ABC, debris that is believed to be from the missing SA boat was discovered early this morning, washed ashore near Goolwa. It was reported that a local fisherman alerted authorities to debris that had washed ashore overnight, which have been identified as being consistent with items Higgins had on the Margrel.
The second day of the search has started. A rescue helicopter is now flying over the Encounter Bay looking for any sign of Tony Higgins and the Margrel. @10NewsFirstAdl pic.twitter.com/0NxBMgLPRw
— Cam Inglis (@inglis_cam) September 22, 2020
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told the ABC that though the authorities have an obligation to ensure the safety of Higgins, it was frustrating that another search had to be launched so soon after his last rescue.
“I think it’s fair to say there’s an element of frustration that the state’s resources are being dedicated to this for a second time,” he said.
“These efforts always come at a cost to the community, but we have an obligation to ensure the safety of everybody and we’ll be doing that today.”
At the time of writing, neither Higgins nor his boat has been located by the search rescue efforts.
