EXTENSIVE resources were used in a search to find a group of nine people in the Gulf of Carpentaria which could have been avoided, police say.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The search began in croc-infested waters after the group ran out of fuel near Old Doomadgee after leaving Mornington Island about 7pm last Wednesday.
Police were advised the group – including three children – were missing, and air searches were carried out by a number of government and non-government aircrafts, along with police resources from Burketown, Doomadgee and Mornington Island.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority deployed aircraft with forward-looking infra-red vision from Cairns and Brisbane on Thursday and Friday to assist the search.
The RACQ NQ Rescue Helicopter, along with commercial helicopters from nearby Riversleigh Station, Karumba and Cloncurry were called in to assist the search, along with the Queensland government rescue helicopter.
Four helicopters were used at a time on Friday and Saturday to help search for the missing people.
The nine people split up and left the boat, but were all eventually located in different stages of the search by Saturday morning.
Mount Isa Police District Inspector Trevor Kidd said inquiries were under way into possible charges relating to the lack of safety gear and licensing to operate the boat.
He said the area was becoming more prevalent for dangerous operation of boats.
“These people need to take responsibility for their actions,” Inspector Kidd said.
“They have undertaken a journey they have not prepared properly for with no EPIRB or safety gear.
“They have put theirs and families lives at risk, not to mention those involved in the rescue.”
Inspector Kidd said an emergency beacon would’ve resulted in a much quicker recovery of the group.
He said the 4.5m tinny was not designed to carry nine people.
