Police are searching for a 38-year-old man who went missing in Torres Strait
waters on Wednesday.
The man was last seen in an outrigger canoe in the channel between Horn and
Thursday Islands at 3:45pm.
His canoe was found 100 metres off the coast of Thursday Island later that
afternoon.
A search was launched involving Queensland Water Police and the Australian
Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), with officers in boats and helicopters also
searching nearby islands.
At about 11pm, a member of the public found the man's hat on a rock in the
channel.
The search resumed at first light this morning.
Torres Strait Patrol Group Acting Inspector Andrew Pool praised the efforts of
those searching for the man.
"Since the alarm was raised, the resourcefulness of the people here has shone
through," he said.
"I want to thank everyone who has come forward to assist in the search.
"Every
effort possible is being made to find this man and our thoughts remain with
his family, friends and fellow islanders."
He said close support was being provided to the man's loved ones.
"I know they are very appreciate of the goodwill shown by those who call this
place home," Acting Inspector Pool said.
Search for Denne Bourke continues after young dad went missing in Torres Strait
Family and friends are praying for a miracle as the search continues for an
experienced outrigger canoeist in Far North Queensland after the Thursday Island
local disappeared two days ago.
Denne Bourke, who once made coffee for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, was last
seen about 3:45pm on Wednesday when he was paddling his canoe in the Torres
Strait.
At the time, he was paddling alone on the return leg of his afternoon route
between Thursday and Horn islands.
Mr Bourke's hat was located on Channel Rock between the two islands, and his
canoe was found 100 metres off Thursday Island later that day.
The 38-year-old father of a three-month-old baby is a popular local identity in
the Torres Strait.
Extensive air and sea searches have been underway since Wednesday night.
He bought The Coffee Department van in early 2020 and is also known as the
friendly face of the island for visiting celebrities and dignitaries, including
Mr Albanese and the Member for Kennedy Bob Katter.
Horn Island man Farhad Kamal spoke with Mr Bourke at the check-out of the
Thursday Island grocery store just hours before the new dad set off in the
canoe.
"I said, 'Hi proud father. So is your new baby keeping you awake all night?' He
was laughing," Mr Kamal said.
Mr Kamal said Mr Bourke's disappearance was "really, really shocking,
heartbreaking, and painful".
"It's hard to hold back the tears when you're thinking about him.
"He's in everyone's thoughts and still we are hoping that a miracle will
happen."
Mr Kamal said everyone in the Torres Strait rallied behind Mr Bourke when he
took over The Coffee Department.
"He was making everyone's day in the morning," he said.
"That was really appreciated within this beautiful community.
"And our honourable Prime Minister also loved to have coffee from his coffee
van."
Mr Farad said Mr Bourke habitually paddled to Horn Island and surfed the ferry
wake back most afternoons.
The ferry staff may have been among the last to see him on Wednesday afternoon —
about two hours before low tide.
Suzannah Salam of the family-owned Rebel Tours, which operates the ferry
service, said staff saw him about 3:45pm on Wednesday afternoon catching the
wave behind the boat.
"I think that some of the other boats that were anchored at the time were
watching him have a good time as well.
"I've
never seen him have anything other than love for the sea, love for paddling
and love for his family."
Ms Salam recalled his "big smile" and love for his job.
The Torres Strait search and rescue operation for missing outrigger paddler
Denne Bourke has been scaled down.
Mr Bourke’s outrigger canoe was located on Wednesday afternoon, May 3,
approximately 100 metres offshore from Thursday Island.
An extensive aerial, vessel and ground search was undertaken and has so far
to failed to locate Mr Bourke.
Queensland Police has been assisted by federal partner agencies and a large
contingent of local vessels from the Thursday Island Community during search
efforts.
Department of Environment and Science (DES) Wildlife Officers are assisting
with the search and have also failed to locate any signs of Mr Bourke.
Queensland Police Service will continue water and aerial searches however
land based shoreline searches have been suspended.
Family and friends would like to thank the community for their support and
efforts with the search and rescue. They are very grateful for the local
community’s quick and detailed response. The kindness and generosity during
this difficult time has been greatly appreciated.
The Queensland Police Service acknowledges the contribution of other
services, volunteers and the community in the search.
Search
for missing paddler in Torres Strait scaled down
The missing paddler's hat was found by a member of the public on a rock in
the channel late at night, but no other trace of him has been found.
Mr Bourke was a well-known figure on Thursday Island, ran a local coffee van
and was an experienced canoeist.
He had also recently become a father.
In a statement, police said Mr Bourke's family and friends thanked the
community for their support and help with the search.
"They are very grateful for the local community's quick and detailed
response," it said.
"The kindness and generosity during this difficult time has been greatly
appreciated."
Queensland Police also acknowledged the contribution of other services,
volunteers and the community in the search.
Search for missing Torres Strait paddler, Denne Bourke, called off as town
holds memorial service
There was not a dry eye at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church when the
Thursday Island community came together for a memorial service to honour
popular coffee van owner Denne Bourke.
There was not a dry eye at Sacred Heart Catholic Church when the
Thursday Island community came together for a memorial service to honour
popular coffee van owner Denne Bourke.
Authorities and locals conducted a search and rescue operation after the
38-year-old’s unmanned outrigger canoe was found 100 metres off the coast of
Thursday Island two weeks ago.
And on Monday the search and rescue operation was officially called off
after an extensive aerial, vessel and ground search.
He was a well respected and loved member of the community, and Irene Laifoo
from the Cannon Bogo Pilot Hostel said his loss had been as if a “very big
blanket” of grief had overcome the whole island.
“We’re very, very fond of him, he trained six or seven of our students in
canoeing,” she said.
“We all knew him and most of our students knew him. All of our students
attended his memorial service on Friday.
“We would have known him since he arrived here and started up his business.
I’ve known him for at least 18 months.”
Ms Laifoo said he was a very friendly figure around town who gave the
students free coffees and mochas.
“The church was packed and it was standing room only,” she said.
Some people just knew him as “the coffee guy”, but Henry Joseph, who works
at the Thursday Island Pharmacy said all the staff there knew him.
“He was a very friendly person, he just fitted in to the community,” he
said.
“He pretty much made friends with everybody here, visitors got to know him,
and tourists. He was one of our locals and he fitted in with Thursday
Island.
“It’s made a big impact on the community. He was a very friendly fellow,
very positive.
“He was very respectful and made a big impact on the community.”
Torres Strait Patrol Group Acting Inspector Andrew Pool praised the
community for their efforts in searching for him and close support has been
provided to his loved ones.
Queensland Police were helped in the search by federal partner agencies and
a large contingent of local vessels from the Thursday Island community
during the search.
Department of Environment and Science wildlife officers, Thursday Island
Water Police, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), and the
QGAir helicopter all joined in the search.
The Queensland Police Service acknowledged the contribution of other
services, volunteers and the community in the search.
