Hope is fading but not extinguished for the family and friends of a 32-year-old man who vanished while snorkelling north of Perth on New Year's Day, as authorities have been forced to scale back a major search operation.
Disappearance at a popular snorkelling spot
An extensive marine and coastal search was launched at Ledge Point Beach around 3pm on Thursday, 1 January 2026, after Wen Ren Gu, also known as Walter, failed to return to shore. The Chinese national had been in the water with a group of friends from Perth since approximately 10am.
The group became separated while in the ocean, and Mr Gu was reported missing. WA Police Sergeant Michael Paterson revealed the man had been searching for crayfish at the time he disappeared. Sergeant Paterson noted a significant gap between when Mr Gu was last seen and when police were alerted.
"It's likely there was a period of time before police were alerted where they (friends) spent their own time looking, so some time between 10am and 3pm," Sgt Paterson said.
Community rallies as official search winds down
After conducting an intense 24-hour search and rescue operation, police and State Emergency Service (SES) crews officially scaled back their efforts on Friday. The decision has left loved ones relying on community support to continue looking.
Mr Gu's friend, Ching-Hui Chang, has made a public appeal for information. "At this time, we are unable to confirm whether he made it back to shore on his own or was rescued by nearby members of the public," Ms Chang stated.
She urged anyone who may have assisted an Asian male in the Ledge Point area on January 1 to come forward. "Police conducted search and rescue operations for 24 hours and have since stopped. We do not want to give up and hope to continue searching with the help of everyone’s support."
Description of the missing man
Wen Ren Gu is described as:
- Approximately 165cm tall
- Of a slim build
- Has a distinctive anchor tattoo on the lower left side of his abdomen
Local shock over tragic incident
The disappearance has sent shockwaves through the local community, with many residents joining the initial search. Local resident Jay Barrett was among those who helped, highlighting the deceptive nature of the area.
"He wasn’t very far out at all, you can literally nearly walk to the reef where they were," Mr Barrett said. "It does have some treacherous spots. You’ve just got to be cautious when you dive. Accidents happen and it’s very, very tragic."
The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers of ocean activities, even in seemingly accessible locations. Authorities and the community now hold onto the slim hope that Mr Gu may yet be found alive.
