Victoria Police officials hold grave fears for two men, one of whom is the brother of AFL star Michael Hibberd, after they were reported missing following a fishing trip in bad weather yesterday.
Police asserted that two men – 20-year-old Jason de Silva and 33-year-old Geoff Hibberd – set off on a fishing trip from the Flinders boat ramp on the Mornington Peninsula prior to 6am on Sunday morning. Authorities were alerted after 9pm that night after a friend was unable to get in touch with either man. The pair’s missing three-metre tinny was found by police at 11am this morning washed up on rocks at Philip Island.
According to reports from the Herald Sun, Hibberd is the older brother of Michael, who is a current member of the Melbourne Football Club playing squad. He joined the team in 2017 after 6 years at Essendon.
Recreational fishing is among the long list of activities currently banned by directive from the Victorian State Government in accordance with broader coronavirus social movement restrictions. Police at the scene at the boat ramp are said to have turned away friends of the men who have attempted to visit the scene due to social distancing requirements.
The Peninsula area was battered with strong winds and wet conditions throughout yesterday, with a peak wind gust of 63km/h recorded yesterday morning.
Emergency officials conducted search operations throughout the night after the alarm was raised. Search efforts remain on-going today.
