A MAN has died after a boat capsized on a sandbar in Nambucca Heads today.
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About 6.40am, a 3-metre aluminium runabout capsized after it hit a wave while attempting to cross the Nambucca sandbar. The skipper was thrown into the water.
Officers from Mid North Coast Police District attended and were assisted by officers from Marine Area Command, Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service, Marine Rescue NSW , Surf Live Saving NSW, and NSW Ambulance paramedics.
About 7.30am, Surf Live Saving NSW personnel located the body of a Nambucca man, and the vessel on South Beach, approximately 500 metres from where the boat capsized.
The vessel will be forensically examined.
A crime scene was established, and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Earlier:
Update 9.25am: Local fishermen at the V-Wall at Nambucca Heads have said they believe the man is a local as they have seen his boat many times in the river before.
Update 9.00am: Ambulance NSW Command has said there's nothing more they can do, a confirmation that the man has passed away.
8.30am: Emergency services are in attendance at the V-Wall where a boat has reportedly capsized this morning.
At this stage it is believed only one person was on board.
A member of the public called the police at around 6.30am. Police then made contact with Nambucca Heads Surf Lifesaving Club who sent out two crews to search the area.
They located a boat and a man washed ashore half-an-hour later at Gaagal Wanggaan (South Beach), just around the bend from the river mouth.
Surf Lifesaving Command has said its crews then began resuscitation efforts until Marine Rescue could ferry ambulance officers across to the scene.
Macksville-Scotts Head Surf Lifesaving Club is currently sending out a four-wheel-drive along the beach from Scotts Head to retrieve the man.
A rescue helicopter is currently circling the area and is on standby if needed.