UPDATE 9.15am, Tuesday: Police have found the owner of canoe found floating on Moreton Bay.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Police said the Macleay Island man loaded the canoe ready for fishing on Sunday and left it on the beach while he dropped his wife at work.
When he returned the canoe was gone and he thought it had been stolen.
He did not report it to police.
After information was supplied to Crime Stoppers, police located the man this morning.
Police thanked the public and volunteers who assisted in a wide search which was conducted on the basis that someone could have fallen out of the canoe and be struggling in Moreton Bay or could have drowned.
UPDATE 3.10PM, Monday:
POLICE Sgt Daniel Moore appealed to anyone who knows of someone who might have gone out in a canoe and not returned to contact police.
Sgt Moore said anyone who had lost a canoe also was urged to contact police.
He said substantial assets were being put into the search, including police boats, Volunteer Marine Rescue and helicopters.
EARLIER:
Brisbane Water Police are coordinating a search for people who may have fallen out of a canoe in Moreton Bay.
At 6.30am police were notified that a canoe had been found drifting near South West Rocks at Peel Island, off Cleveland.
The canoe is about 240cm long and yellow with a blue band.
There are two fishing rods in the canoe and fresh bait.
It is not known if anyone has fallen out of the canoe or if it has simply drifted away from a camp site.
There are three water police vessels and two helicopters conducting a search in relation to the matter.
Police are appealing for anyone who recognises the canoe or can supply further information to contact them.