UPDATE Monday 3pm
Lifesavers have joined the search for two men and their 4.4m tinnie fishing boat after they failed to return from an early morning fishing trip off Coffs Harbour yesterday.
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Those missing are a 70-year-old man from Valla Beach and a 37-year-old man from the far South Coast.
Surf Life Saving NSW volunteer jetskis and crew joined an extensive, land, sea and air search for the missing men. Surf Life Saving NSW is part of the multi-agency search also involving Police, the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter and Australian Maritime Safety Authority aircraft.
Surf Life Saving NSW jetski assets conducted a close coastal search of the shoreline between Nambucca Heads and Urunga, which was the area identified by computer drift modelling as being where the tinnie would have drifted if its motor had failed.
The jetskis were later deployed to Split Solitary Island, which was also identified as a location the men may have been fishing. The search was unsuccessful.
Surf Life Saving NSW assets and personnel have been stood down for the moment but remain on standby to re-join the search if tasked by Marine Area Command.
Anyone who may have seen the vessel in trouble between Coffs Harbour and Sawtell is urged to contact police.
Steven Pearce, CEO SLSNSW said that the operational resources that SLSNSW is committing demonstrates SLSNSW's capability beyond the flags.
"The increasing reliance on our volunteers in being able to respond to critical incidents of this kind, outside the red and yellow flags, is demonstrated by these operations," he said.
Earlier
A search has resumed for two fishermen who have been missing since yesterday from Coffs Harbour.
About 6am on Sunday, the two men, aged 70 and 37, left the Jetty Boat Ramp in a five-metre runabout. They were headed towards Sawtell Reef.
The alarm was raised about 6.45pm, when the men failed to return.
Officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District commenced a search for the men, assisted by the Marine Area Command and Marine Rescue. An aerial patrol by a Westpac Rescue Helicopter was unable to locate the men or their runabout.
The car the men drove to the boat ramp remains at the location and concerns are held for their welfare. Police have been told the runabout was equipped with life-jackets; however, it is not known if the men were wearing them.
The search has resumed this morning after being suspended overnight.
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.
