Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
No sign of man missing in Brisbane River
Emergency services have failed to find a 34-year-old man who disappeared into the Brisbane River while picnicking with a group of friends.
January 20, 2019
A massive search operation to find a Queensland man who disappeared in the Brisbane River has found no sign of him.
Matt Jarvis, 34, was picnicking with friends at the bottom of the Kangaroo Point cliffs when he went into the water about 7.40pm on Saturday.
“He walked off from the group to the river’s edge … they then heard a rustling in the trees and a splash and called out, ‘I think that’s Matt’, a police spokeswoman told AAP on Sunday.
Mr Javis’s friends ran to the water edge at the popular barbecue spot, where he was seen struggling before three of the group dived in to try and reach him.
“Other witnesses at the scene have (also) said they observed a man in the water before he went under and was not seen again,” she said.
The group had been socialising and drinking by the river, opposite the Brisbane CBD.
Overnight, water police boats, divers, swift water rescue boats, volunteer marine rescue and a helicopter searched the area.
A command post has since been set up on the banks of the river on Sunday, near to where Mr Jarvis was last seen.
A line search has been conducted along the river’s edge and in the water.
Police and volunteer marine rescue boats, and a helicopter continue to search the water.
Mr Jarvis was last seen wearing a white long sleeve shirt with black dots, dark green cargo pants, light coloured cap and Nike shoes.
He is described as Caucasian, about 170cm tall with fair complexion and long brown dreadlocks.