Ian GRAY
Ian GRAY
WA Police say they will continue searching for a Perth man missing off the Midwest WA coast tomorrow.
Police said today's search was called off due to adverse weather conditions.
Waikiki resident Ian Gray, 46, was reported missing just after 6pm yesterday when he failed to return from a solo fishing trip off the Green Head coast.
He had departed earlier in the afternoon.
Midwest Gascoyne District Acting Superintendent Jon Munday said police held grave concerns for Mr Gray.
He said the search started last night and they have been using land, sea and air assets from police and other agencies, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority search and rescue jet.
"All we're doing at the moment is conducting [an] extensive marine environment search and coastal environment search," he said.
"First light this morning we've had SES volunteers on the ground searching the beaches, we've had several Volunteer Marine Rescue vessels in the water."
He said a Department of Fisheries vessel had also joined the search.
"Unfortunately we haven't found any sign of Mr Gray or the vessel," he said.
Mr Munday said sea conditions had been hampering efforts.
"There is a large swell running," he said.
"The weather is not favourable for searching down there."
Mr Munday said police were unsure what safety gear Mr Gray had onboard but no emergency beacon was activated.
"Family have told us that he has basic safety gear so we're hoping he's got life jackets and flares and all that sort of stuff," he said.
"But he's in a reasonably small vessel — it's a 4.2-metre open dinghy.
Mr Munday said the Green Head coastline was not notably dangerous and Mr Gray was familiar with the area.
"Mr Gray does know the area well, he does have family in Green Head and he has fished that location very regularly," he said.
"The family … are extremely worried as you can imagine.
He said they just wanted answers.
"Hopefully we will still find Mr Gray alive," he said.
Mr Gray is one of two people reported missing off the Midwest coast yesterday.
Authorities will continue to search for a 46-year-old man who went missing while fishing off Green Head, three hours north of Perth, on Tuesday morning.
Ian Gray was reported missing on Sunday evening. Police said he was overdue because he usually returned about 4pm.
Nine News Perth’s Mia Egerton-Warburton reported Gray’s family raised the alarm about 6.20pm on Sunday.
Gray’s Mitsubishi Triton and boat trailer remained at the boat ramp on Monday.
An initial helicopter and boat search failed to locate the man but the hunt resumed on Monday, with SES volunteers and police scouring the shore.
Egerton-Warburton told Radio 6PR police were focusing further north from where Gray went missing, and locals said there was a strong current that flowed off the coast.
That search was called off at 5pm Monday, but will resume again at first light on Tuesday.
West Australian authorities have called off their search for a fisherman several days after he went missing off the state’s Mid West coast.
Waikiki man Ian Gray, 46, was reported missing on Sunday evening after he went fishing off Green Head, three hours north of Perth.
The experienced fisherman’s vehicle and trailer remained at the boat ramp.
WA Police on Wednesday said the search would be suspended pending further information, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Almost 4000 square nautical miles were scoured by air, land and sea assets during the four-day search, police said in a statement.
The search area stretched to 50 nautical miles offshore.