Major Search Underway for Missing Canoeist in Goulburn River Near Yea
Emergency services are conducting an extensive search for a 53-year-old man who went missing after his canoe capsized in the Goulburn River. The incident occurred near Ghin Ghin, north-west of Yea, prompting a multi-agency response.
A large-scale search operation is currently underway in the Goulburn River near Ghin Ghin, north-west of Yea, after a 53-year-old man disappeared when his canoe overturned this morning. Emergency services were alerted to the incident shortly before 10:45 AM today, with multiple agencies now scouring the fast-flowing waters.
The man was reportedly canoeing in the Ghin Ghin area, approximately two hours north-east of Melbourne, when his vessel capsized. An individual on the riverbank witnessed the incident and promptly contacted Triple Zero (000) at 10:45 AM, initiating the extensive rescue effort. While the man's canoe has since been located by search teams, he remains missing.
Multiple emergency response teams have converged on the scene, including Victoria Police, the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Lifesaving Victoria, and the State Emergency Service (SES). Three members of the elite SES Swift Water Rescue Team are actively involved in the search, navigating the challenging river conditions. Authorities describe the missing man as Caucasian, 175 centimetres tall, with short blond hair.
An SES spokesperson confirmed that the river's current is 'flowing quite rapidly,' posing significant challenges for search crews. While the missing man is understood to be a strong swimmer, he was reportedly not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident, raising serious concerns for his safety as the search intensifies.