UPDATE: A desperate multi-agency search is currently underway off the NSW coast for a missing 8.4-metre catamaran, the Mangrove Jack, carrying two men who vanished during their journey from Yamba to Queensland.
The catamaran departed Yamba Harbour around 8:00 AM on September 27 and was expected to arrive in Southport by 5:00 PM the same day, but it never reached its destination. Authorities were notified of the vessel’s disappearance at approximately 8:20 PM, prompting a large-scale search operation.
Police confirmed that officers from the Marine Area Command, alongside Tweed-Byron Police, Police Rescue, Polair, Marine Rescue NSW, Queensland Police, Marine Rescue QLD, and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, are actively scouring the waters. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is also involved in the ongoing efforts to locate the missing men.
Search crews are combing the coastline and surrounding waters, desperately hoping to find any sign of the catamaran or its occupants. The urgency of the situation is heightened by the potential risks faced by the missing individuals as time progresses.
As the search continues, authorities urge anyone with information or sightings of the Mangrove Jack to come forward. The community is rallying to support the families of the missing men during this distressing time.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops. The safety of the two men remains the top priority for all agencies involved in this critical search operation.
