Two men missing in South Australian waters off Port Lincoln

[clownfishsydney]

The ABC News website has details. South Australia Police Inspector Gus Sickerdick said: "Mr Higgins's wallet was found in a bag with his ID inside, as well as keys and glasses, near the Murray Mouth". They also found three jerry cans and a life buoy. Does not sound good at all.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-...ggins/12692472

[ausnp84]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

An excerpt from an article on page 3 of today's The Australian:

"He had a blunt message to his detractors after comparisons were made to British sailor Tony Ballimore, whose 1997 disappearance at sea sparked a rescue that cost Australian tax payers an estimated $6m.

"They can stick it up their arse," Mr Higgins said. "They need to get a life and spend a bit less time critiquing people from an armchair. I went and bought a boat. How else was I going to get it back? Fly it? People have been punching around the oceans for thousands of years. They never had anyone to go out and rescue them, and I never expected anyone to look for me. I'm self sustaining and if I f...k it up, then I have to pay the price."

A persistent rugged individual perhaps?

More like someone who was pushing his luck, and finally ran out of it...

If he’s not expecting assistance, why make distress calls then? Sure people have been out on the water for eons, but then there has to be an element of common sense between a seaworthy boat and one that clearly needs some work before leaving a harbour.

I do hope he’s found alive and well, but I suspect that’s not going to happen this time.

N

[chrisr]

Originally Posted by ausnp84

More like someone who was pushing his luck, and finally ran out of it...

If he’s not expecting assistance, why make distress calls then? Sure people have been out on the water for eons, but then there has to be an element of common sense between a seaworthy boat and one that clearly needs some work before leaving a harbour.

I do hope he’s found alive and well, but I suspect that’s not going to happen this time.

N

i'm not sure that he did make any distress calls did he ? certainly not the first time...

cheers,

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by chrisr

i'm not sure that he did make any distress calls did he ? certainly not the first time...

cheers,

Not the first time but apparently he called police this time around.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-...nking/12688040

[ausnp84]

Originally Posted by chrisr

i'm not sure that he did make any distress calls did he ? certainly not the first time...

cheers,

Not a distress call per se, but:

“The men contacted a friend around 11pm on Friday to say the vessel was experiencing engine trouble and that they were not in distress but were planning to divert their course to nearby Kangaroo Island.

The friend told police yesterday she had not heard back from the pair after that first call. A police search was then launched.”

And then of course the second time he called the fuzz.

N

[RaymondR]

The moderators don't like me using the Australian vernacular but he's whats best described as "a bit of a ratbag" (Best definition I was able to find was: Ratbag -an uninhibited person who does unconventional things, often recklessly and amusingly

[Moana Bella]

Sadly it does look like he's pushed his luck one time too many. Still relying on a mobile phone to make distress calls from his boat.
His friend who got off the boat believes he was trying to get to his home waters in Lake Alexandrina. That requires entering the Murray Mouth. Locals say the current against you can be 6kn and his boat with broken prop can only do 2-3kn. Doesn't take me long to do the math on that.
In addition, the weather at the moment is so bad the rescue boats are not going out, only air and shore search.
I am sure we all like a bit of an adventure on the water but he has been very irresponsible and put a lot of people at risk, most of all himself.
He was fined for not having a recreational boat licence but claimed to be over qualified with a commercial ticket. So it begs the question why he neglected to prepare for the journey, and why continue a pleasure cruise around after being towed to safe harbour by the police rescue boat?
Hope he has made it to shore - its is very shallow around the Murray mouth, so could be a chance for him. But looks like his boat is broken up - lots of debris found, including his ID.

[clownfishsydney]

South Australian Police have just announced that they have ended the search for Mr Higgins. Report also says part of the back deck of the boat was found on the beach yesterday. Weather was too bad today to use even planes and helicopters. Sad but inevitable news.

[GILow]

Very sad indeed.

A sobering reminder that our chosen pastime is not without its risks.

My condolences to his family and friends. I hope they come to understand and accept the path he chose.

[GILow]

Just adding this for completeness. I assume any further news coverage will be limited to a finding from the coroner in a few months.

Wreckage from vessel of missing boatie found washed up on SA beach
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-2...beach/12703966

[Wotname]

Thanks for the update, sad ending for this man's adventure.

[NaClyDog]

Wow, that poor man. My sympathies go out to his family.


I've been away for a few weeks and was surprised / shocked to see the turn of events in this thread after they were initially found.


Sad ending to a sad situation.


Thank you to those who kept the thread updated with info.