The boat of a missing man last seen in Tasmania’s north-west has been found drifting kilometres off the states coast overnight.
75-year-old Kerry Frankcombe failed to return from a planned day fishing trip from Port Sorell on Sunday afternoon.
Tasmania Police Senior Constable Damien Godfrey said rescue crews are currently scouring the Port Sorell area for Frankcombe, who is believed to be wearing black trousers, a checked blue shirt and a grey coat.
“Multiple police vessels, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Tamar Sea Rescue and Challenger Jet from Victoria provided by AMSA, began searching the area at about 7.55pm last night,” Godfrey said.
“About 1.30am the vessel was located by the AMSA Challenger Jet adrift approximately 12 km off the coast of Beechford.”
Frankcombe’s green and white 6-metre half cab vessel entered the water at the Port Sorell boat ramp in the early hours of yesterday morning for a half-day fishing trip.
“There has been no EPIRB activation, and the man did not take a mobile phone with him.”
Police ask anyone that may have seen the boat or Frankcombe to contact them.
