Rescue
On May 3, 2023

Search resumes for missing fisherman off Kiama

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers on board Port Kembla 31 and Shellharbour 30 have resumed the multi-agency search for a missing fisherman who is believed to have been swept off rocks near Blowhole Point at Kiama around 6:45 last night.

Both Marine Rescue vessels mustered with Water Police off Bombo Headland at 8:30 this morning.

Marine Rescue NSW Illawarra Zone Duty Operations Manager Stuart Massey said SH 30 and PK 31 are conducting a parallel line search.

“They’re going from Bombo Headland to Black Rock in the south.

“Once they do a run a they will move half-a-mile east and run the same pattern.

“Our crews will gradually move further east with each leg until they’ve covered off a 40 square nautical mile area,” Mr Massey said.

The Illawarra Zone Duty Operations Manager said that the missing fisherman wasn’t wearing a lifejacket at the time of the incident.

“A simple piece of safety equipment could have potentially avoided this search and rescue mission.

“We ask that all people heading out on the water wear a lifejacket,” Mr Massey said.

Marine Rescue vessel Shellharbour 30 spent two hours searching for the fisherman last night after reports the man believed to be aged in his 70s failed to resurface after going into the water.

Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.

Latest News

Rescue
On Sep 22, 2025

Marine Rescue NSW calls on boaters to make safety a priority these spring holidays

More than 3,400 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are on standby to assist boaters on waterways across the state during the upcoming spring school holidays. Acting Commissioner Todd Andrews said the...

Rescue
On Sep 15, 2025

Trailblazing women take the helm at Marine Rescue Woolgoolga

Marine Rescue Woolgoolga has made history as the first Marine Rescue NSW unit to appoint an all-female executive team. Image: (L to R) Dolly Clarke, Cherrill Powell, Lisa Mobbs and Taylor Marshall,...