Qld: Fears held for missing children and father

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2000
Qld: Fears held for missing children and father

BRISBANE, Aug 10 AAP - Fears for the safety of three children and their father intensified
today after a day-long search in north Queensland failed to locate them.

Police, volunteers and a rescue helicopter unsuccessfully searched a stretch of beach
and ocean south of Mackay after the family's dinghy was found washed up on Flat Top Island,
with camping equipment inside.

The man had picked up his children, aged five, three and two, from his wife's home
yesterday for a camping trip.

A police spokesman said that searchers had become increasingly concerned for the welfare
of the family and had switched their focus to the sea.

"They initially thought the dinghy had washed away with the tide leaving them stranded," he said.

"But a search along the shore didn't uncover anything.

"This afternoon the focus has been on the stretch of water about 25km long, that is
basically from where they launched the boat to where they found it floating."

He said a police water vessel would continue to search the area until nightfall along
with a community-based rescue helicopter.

Police have not released the name of the missing man and the children.

AAP dn/sc/mg/de

KEYWORD: CHILDREN NIGHTLEAD

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