Search called off for Rockingham fishermen

Two Rockingham fishermen have been missing for 10 days off the coast of Coral Bay, with grave fears over their welfare.

Police suspended the search for Port Kennedy man Nigel Kitchen, 50, and Andy Hinds, 57, of Cooloongup last Thursday after four days of searching.

The pair were reported missing on Sunday, May 29, after failing to return from a fishing trip in rough conditions with 20-knot winds and a 4.5m swell.

“The search for two missing fisherman and their vessel off the coast of Coral Bay continued on Thursday using police divers, police boat Delphinus and a glass-bottom boat,” police said.

“An aerial search was done along with a land search by volunteers.

“Unfortunately, no debris or items from the missing vessel were located and no trace was seen of the missing men.”

Mangles Bay Fishing Club president Dan Andersen said it was worrying the pair, who are members of the club, had not managed to set off an emergency beacon, with two on board the vessel.

“Being a bit rough wouldn’t have bothered them but it could have been a freak wave, nobody really knows what happened,” he said.

“But let’s not fear the worst, let’s just hope for the best.”

Friends, relatives and locals joined the desperate search for the experienced boaties before it was called off, with police saying it would only resume if specific items of interest were found.

Last week, a diver located a human arm on the sea floor near Bill’s Bay, close to the Coral Bay township.

The remains have been sent for forensic testing to determine if the arm belongs to one of the men.