THIS morning searchers found the body of a deceased man believed to be the missing skipper of an unmanned dinghy found off Alkimos yesterday.
Yanchep Police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Martin Hopkins said a body believed to be that of a missing 68-year-old man from the northern suburbs had been found about 9.30am in the Yanchep area.
Sen Sgt Hopkins said the missing man’s family had been notified but he was yet to be formally identified.
At press conference held at Mindarie marina about 10am Sen Sgt Hopkins said retrieval of the man’s body was underway.
It was not known how long the man who was believed to be an experienced fisherman had been in the water but Sen Sgt Hopkins understood the man had been wearing a lifejacket and that an EPIRD had been found on the boat.
Sen Sgt Hopkins said the man’s family said he had often launched his dinghy from the Mindarie boat marina.
Yesterday after police were notified by a beach fisherman that he could see a small boat continually circling its location some distance off Alkimos water police had to stop the dinghy and get on board where they also rescued a dog.
Sen Sgt Hopkins said their thoughts went out to the family as it had been a huge shock to them.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
