Boating accident off Tasmania’s northwest coast leaves one dead, three rescued after capsizing
Consensus Summary
A boating accident off Tasmania’s northwest coast on Saturday evening June 15, 2024, resulted in the capsizing of a fishing vessel near Robbins Island, throwing four people—three adults (ages 27, 33, and 35) and a six-year-old child—into the water. Three survivors, all wearing life jackets, were rescued around 1pm on Sunday after spending approximately 16 hours in the ocean near Big Stony Island and were taken to hospital for observation. Authorities confirmed the body of the 35-year-old man, who was not wearing a life jacket at the time of his death, was found on Monday. The incident began when the group departed the Montagu boat ramp at 5:30pm, with relatives alerting police at 8am on Sunday after they failed to return. Search efforts involved the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Tasmania Police’s boat *Van Diemen*, while the capsized vessel remains unrecovered. The tragedy highlights the risks of boating without proper safety gear, as the 35-year-old’s death was linked to removing his life jacket.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Four people—three adults (ages 27, 33, and 35) and a six-year-old child—were on a fishing trip that departed the Montagu boat ramp west of Smithton at approximately 5:30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.
- The vessel capsized around 9pm on Saturday, throwing all four occupants into the water off Tasmania’s northwest coast near Robbins Passage/Island.
- Three survivors (a 27-year-old woman, a 33-year-old man, and the six-year-old child) were located near Big Stony Island around 1pm on Sunday, June 16, after spending ~16 hours in the water.
- The three survivors were wearing life jackets and were taken to North West Regional Hospital for observation but were otherwise uninjured.
- A body, believed to be that of the 35-year-old man, was found on the eastern side of Robbins Island on Monday, June 17, 2024.
- Relatives raised the alarm to Tasmania Police at approximately 8am on Sunday after the group failed to return to the Montagu campground.
- The Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Tasmania Police’s boat *Van Diemen* were involved in the search efforts.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Article 1 does not mention the age of the missing man or confirm his death until Article 2 updates the story.
- Article 1 states the missing man was a ‘third adult’ without specifying his relationship to the other three (only Article 2 clarifies he was friends with the family).
- Article 1 omits the detail that the 35-year-old man was *not wearing a life jacket* at the time of his death (only mentioned in Article 2).
- Article 1 does not mention the exact location of the survivors’ rescue (Big Stony Island) or the coroner’s report preparation.
- Describes the group as ‘campers’ staying at Montagu campground (not explicitly mentioned in ABC’s Article 1).
- States the survivors were ‘floating in the ocean’ before being rescued (ABC’s Article 1 does not use this phrasing).
- No additional details beyond consensus facts; does not mention the 35-year-old’s life jacket status or coroner’s report.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 (ABC) initially reports only a man is missing without confirming his death, while Articles 2 and 3 explicitly state his body was found.
- Article 1 does not specify the missing man’s age (only Articles 2 and 3 name him as 35).
- Article 1 omits the detail that the 35-year-old man was *not wearing a life jacket* at the time of his death (only mentioned in Article 2).
- Article 1 does not mention the survivors were found on *Big Stony Island* (Articles 2 and 3 specify this).
- Article 1 does not reference the coroner’s report preparation or Inspector Anthea Maingay’s condolences (only in Article 2).
Source Articles
Search underway for missing man after three rescued at sea
Tasmania Police says three people have been rescued with, a man still missing, after a fishing boat "broke up" in waters off Tasmania's north-west coast....
Body found in search for 35yo man who went missing after boat capsized
Police say a body has been found in the search for a 35-year-old man who went missing after a boating mishap in Tasmania's far north-west at the weekend....
Sad update after campers’ boating mishap
A group of campers were rescued after spending 16 hours in the ocean after their boat broke apart. However, one remained unaccounted for....