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Don't rock boat

An early morning search, spanning the bay from Queenscliff to Dromana, located a small tinnie with a man and two teenagers on board who had been reported missing overnight.

The three intrepid fishermen pushed off in a small tinnie from Queenscliff yesterday afternoon around 5pm with the intention of returning at midnight.

Police believe the vessel, crewed by the captain, a 21-year-old Swan Bay man and his two crew members aged 15 and 12 years, was ill-prepared for the westerly winds that blew up on the bay overnight and were unable to return to shore.

The alarm was raised early this morning by the crew’s mother when she realised that her boys were still out at sea.

A search was swiftly commenced utilising two helicopters and a number of Victoria Water Police vessels before receiving a report of a tinnie washed up on a Dromana boat ramp.

The crew was located by Ambulance Victoria and given the all clear.

Creina O’Grady

Media advisor

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