Sam SGROI

                                                                                        

 

Search suspended for man missing in Batemans Bay

Sunday, 02 October 2011 11:17:33 AM

NSW Police have suspended the search for a man missing after a speed boat capsized off Batemans Bay yesterday.

The decision to suspend the search was made at 11am after visibility, wind and ocean conditions deteriorated and there were concerns for welfare of those searching. The situation will be reviewed later today.

Today’s search involved water police from Eden, the police airwing, Polair, the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue helicopter, four marine rescue vessels, four surf lifesaving IRBs and a jet ski. Police divers are still travelling to the scene.

A search was initiated about 2pm yesterday (Saturday 1 October 2011), when an 11-year-old girl was found clinging to the hull of a 4.9m powered catamaran in an area known as Yellow Rock.

A short time later, the bodies of a 10-year-old girl, a 73-year-old man, and a 66-year-old woman were recovered from the water.

A man, believed to be aged in his 40s, remains missing.

It’s believed the children were on holidays from Victoria with their grandparents, who live in the Batemans Bay area.

 

 

Girl, 11, survives but sister, grandparents die

UPDATE 8.16am: A VICTORIAN girl, 11, has survived a boating tragedy in NSW that has claimed the lives of her sister, 10, her uncle and grandparents.

Georgia Sgroi - the sole survivor of Saturday's accident - was found by two fishermen, clinging to the boat's hull off Batemans Bay.

Her sister Gianna, grandparents Con and Tina Sgroi, and uncle Sam Sgroi drowned after their vessel overturned in heavy seas.

Tragically, it appears none of the family was wearing a lifejacket.

The father of the two girls, Philip Sgroi, made a dash from Melbourne after being told of the tragedy.

Amazingly, Georgia received only minor injuries and has been reunited with her father.

They were being comforted by relatives at a home in Batehaven.

Police divers today resumed the search for Sam Sgori's body. 

Acting Inspector David Silversides said the 47-year-old is believed to have drowned.

Police divers were focusing on the Three Islands Reef area.

The search resumed this morning after strong winds and poor visibility forced rescuers to abandon their efforts early yesterday.

The police airwing, Polair, four marine rescue vessels, surf lifesaving IRBs and a jet ski are all involved in the search.

Police said the sisters were holidaying at the home of their grandparents, who had retired and moved from Griffith to Batemans Bay.

Rescue workers said weather conditions were mild when the group set sail, but deteriorated as the day progressed.

About 2pm, two fishermen saw the young girl clinging to the hull of the boat near an area known as Yellow Rock, and called the police. A short time later, the bodies of the 10-year-old girl, Mr Sgroi, 73, and his wife, 66, were recovered.

Poor weather hampered the search for the remaining victim and winds gusted to about 33 knots offshore, and wave heights reached 5.9m.

Ports Minister Duncan Gay said he had been advised none of the occupants of the 5m Shark Cat was wearing a lifejacket.

"The challenge is to make people understand accidents can and do happen, and it's essential to wear a lifejacket as a precaution. Because when trouble strikes it's generally too late to try to put it on," he said.

"A lifejacket will not save your life unless you wear it."

Insp Silversides said: "Particularly with children under 12 years of age, they must have a life jacket on. Obviously weather conditions will dictate whether life jackets are worn by adults, but we would suggest as best practice that all people on vessels on the seas are wearing a life jacket."