Media Release
Missing diver located deceased, Cape York
The body of a 49-year-old man missing in waters off Bushie Islet, Cape York since yesterday was located this morning by search crews.
The man had been reported missing after he failed to surface from a spear fishing dive in waters off Bushie Islet, in the Cairncross Island Group, approximately three nautical miles off the east coast of Cape York.
The Cairns man was reported missing by a friend who had been diving with him at the time. Preliminary information indicates that the second man returned to a moored boat around 12.30pm to discover that the other man had failed to return.
An air and sea search coordinated by federal authorities was launched yesterday afternoon with initial searches locating some of the man’s equipment. Control of the search was handed to the Queensland Police Service last evening.
Soon after the re-commencement of the search this morning the man’s body was located by Water Police officers in waters off the northern beaches of Bushy Islet.
A post mortem examination will be conducted to assist with determining the man’s cause of death, however there are indications that he may have been injured by a marine animal.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner with the death being treated as non suspicious.
The waters in Far North Queensland are well known crocodile areas.
Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.
Crime Stoppers is a charitable community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.
07 3015 2444
