An extensive search and rescue operation is underway north of Perth after a snorkeller disappeared without a trace on New Year's Day. The 32-year-old man was separated from his friends while hunting for crayfish at the popular Ledge Point Beach.
Disappearance During Holiday Outing
The alarm was raised with police around 3pm on Thursday, January 1st, after the man's friends returned to shore and could not locate him. The group of four had travelled from Perth that morning and entered the water at the coastal spot, approximately 120 kilometres north of the city, at about 10am.
Sergeant Michael Paterson of the Western Australia Police confirmed the friends had been interviewed and were "understandably concerned". The missing man's family has also been notified. Police understand some members of the group had visited the popular crayfishing location previously, but the experience level of the missing individual is not yet fully known.
Significant Resources Deployed in Search
Authorities have committed substantial resources to what remains a rescue mission. The operation involves a coordinated effort using helicopters, drones, marine vessels, jet skis, and several police divers. Despite the scale of the search, which continued through Friday, no trace of the man or his equipment has been found.
"At this stage we haven't located anything that the missing diver had with him," Sergeant Paterson stated. He emphasised that police are "doing everything we can" and remain "confident and hopeful that we'll be able to find him".
Unanswered Questions Amid Busy Conditions
Key details surrounding the disappearance remain unclear. It is not known how the friends became separated or the precise moment the man may have encountered difficulty. The group was equipped with wetsuits, snorkelling gear, and a catch bag, but did not have scuba air tanks.
Police believe there may have been a gap between the time the man went missing and when they were notified, as the friends initially searched themselves. "So sometime between 10am and 3pm," Sergeant Paterson noted. Conditions on the day were described as "fairly good", though they are being considered as a possible factor. The beach was reportedly very busy with people celebrating the public holiday.
The search was expected to continue through Friday afternoon and potentially into the evening, with authorities determined to provide answers for the man's worried family and friends.
