Trent RILEY
Trent RILEY
Police say they are "holding out hope" that a large-scale air and sea search will uncover the whereabouts of missing Brisbane fisherman Trent Riley in Moreton Bay.
Mr Riley's empty boat was discovered motoring 100 metres off Mud Island near the Port of Brisbane on Wednesday afternoon.
The 26-year-old's disappearance has sparked a major search operation, involving Water Police, the Coast Guard, Volunteer Marine Rescue and Mr Riley's friends.
Acting Inspector Mark Mooney said police had been in contact with the missing man's mother.
"She's aware the survivability after 24 hours is quite low which is very heartbreaking for her and the family and friends," he said.
"We're still holding out hope that we'll bring him home alive to her."
Mr Riley posted a video to social media two hours before his empty boat was found.
"I understand he is quite a keen fisherman, however he doesn't normally fish in this area," Acting Inspector Mooney said.
"The vessel itself is quite small and I wouldn't say it would be an overly safe vessel to go out in Moreton Bay."
Fifteen boats and two helicopters have been involved in the search.
Acting Inspector Mooney said the man had not been wearing a life jacket and it was unclear how he had fallen from the boat.
The aluminium vessel was not damaged, but Mr Riley's mobile phone and a fishing rod are missing.
Police have urged anyone who saw the fisherman's boat between 1:30pm and 3:30pm on Wednesday to contact authorities.
The brother of a Brisbane boatie missing at sea in Moreton Bay for two days says he refuses to give up hope that the young fisherman will be found alive.
Police fear Trent Riley, 26, fell overboard during a solo fishing trip on Wednesday afternoon.
His empty tinnie was found motoring uncontrolled off Mud Island near the Port of Brisbane.
Mr Riley's friends and family have joined a large-scale air, land and sea search of the surrounding area.
His brother Shannon Riley said the past two days had taken an enormous toll.
"It's been the worst time of our lives," Mr Riley said.
"We have massive hope.
"Trent's a survivor and I don't want anyone to think [finding him] is not going to happen, because the impossible has happened before."
Police yesterday discovered the missing man's hat floating off St Helena Island.
"It was a clip-on so he'd actually have to physically take the hat off," Mr Riley said.
"I believe he was swimming somewhere and the hat was annoying him so he's just ripped it off and he's somewhere on an island or the ocean."
Helicopters, police vessels, the dive squad, Volunteer Marine Rescue and drones have all been involved in the search effort.
Police said yesterday the likelihood of survival at sea decreased significantly after 24 hours.
Mr Riley urged search teams to continue their efforts to find his brother until he was found.
"Anyone who's got resources, the heart to help, please come here at 7:00am [tomorrow] and we can just do a massive search over the weekend if he's not found today," he said.
"People are giving up after two days and saying 'it's not possible' and that's just not right.
"We're not giving up — no way."
The family of Trent Riley, a world-renowned skateboard champion who went missing fishing in Moreton Bay, hope to give back to all those who tried to find him. HOW YOU CAN HELP
The family of a world-renowned skateboard champion who went missing in Moreton Bay in 2021 have launched an association to fundraise for the volunteers who took part in the massive search operation.
A boat belonging to Trent Riley, 26, was found unmanned near Mud Island (Bangamba) on April 14 that year after his worried family alerted authorities.
Hundreds of people helped the Rileys in a gruelling nine-day search effort, including volunteers from the fishing and skating community, scoured the bay for nine days alongside emergency services personnel before the heartbreaking decision to call off the search.
Trent’s body has never been found.
Siblings Shannon, Louise and Zara have now set up the TBUNS Association after coming up with the idea, at the end of last year’s Gold Coast Marathon, to repay the efforts of the search teams.
TBUNS was designed to raise awareness and funds for Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) members who frequently gave their time and risked their lives in searches.
The siblings’ goal was to raise $115,000 for VMR before next year’s Gold Coast Marathon, in which they would all compete in their brother’s honour.
They hoped to give $10,000 to Brisbane Water Police, $5000 to South East Queensland Underwater Ecology Survey Teams (SEQUEST) and the rest to the five VMR squadrons covering Moreton Bay.
In 2021 alone, VMR took part in 284 search and rescue operations.
It had five bases from Shorncliffe and Bribie Island to Raby Bay, Dunwich (Stradbroke Island) and Victoria Point.
Nathan Ebert, who was heavily involved in the search for Trent, has also helped the Riley family set up TBUNS.
“In the search for Trent we had community support, Water Police and four to five VMR Moreton Bay squadrons,” Mr Ebert said.
“Those VMR volunteers were activated for 11 days straight, morning and night.
“It’s become apparent what help these organisations need compared to the funding they are getting.
“The cost of running a VMR base is $115,000 annually.
“To activate a small vessel for a search is $175 an hour — and going up due to fuel prices.
“In some of the hectic years, a VMR base can blow their budget within three to four searches.
“As sad as it is to say, they don’t get much government support.
“They do such an important role in society.”
Mr Ebert last weekend showed Brisbane’s VMR president the concept of TBUNS and the website.
“By the end of it, I had two grown men in tears, saying this is the most touching thing they’ve seen anyone do in 20 years of VMR,” Mr Ebert said.
“The impact, the community coming together — it’s left an impact on them.
“The emotions are so high and topping it off the Riley family, they’re still coming out and saying we’re here to support you.
“They’ve never seen a family turn around and do that. “
Zara Riley said her family was “stronger than ever’’ three years on from Trent’s disappearance.
“At the start it was rocky and everyone was dealing with grief in their own way,” Ms Riley said.
“Trent was the glue holding us and our friends together.
“He was always the humble fisherman, energetic skater and the guy who made friends with anyone.”
Ms Riley said the breaking point in the search for Trent came at the two-week mark when rescuers still were not making any progress.
Ms Riley and Mr Ebert spoke of seeing footprints of volunteers without knowing how old the prints were.
That was when they realised they had covered some areas of land three times.
“I was there in the trenches every day for two weeks,” Ms Riley said.
“The pivotal point was watching mum slowly break down.
“She came to the boat ramp and watching her break down on the ramp, we were thinking this is time.
“Everyone was exhausted, everyone put in 110 per cent.”
Mr Ebert said many VMR bases initially lacked a permanent facility when they began.
For instance, VMR Raby Bay started 25 years ago with a caravan stationed near the boat ramp until sufficient funds were raised for a permanent operational building.
Ms Riley said she hoped people would not be deterred by Trent’s disappearance and keep having fun on the water.
However, she stressed they do it safely and with all the necessary equipment.