Fears grow for family missing off Cape Jaffa, Australia

Searches will resume today for Len and Annette Vandepeer and their son, Doug, after they failed to return to the Cape Jaffa boat ramp. They have been missing since Monday night

Search continue for family missing off Cape Jaffa, Australia
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Air, sea and land searches are continuing off Cape Jaffa in South Australia after a couple and their son failed to return from a boating trip.

Len and Annette Vandepeer, both aged 57, and their adult son Doug were expected back on Monday night (12 December 2016).

Extensive searches involving the police, Australian Search and Rescue, State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers and Fisheries have been carried out along the coastline.

A bucket and plastic tub, which has been identified as coming from the missing boat, have been found, but there is no trace of the Vandepeers.

In a statement released on the 14 December 2016, the South Australia Police said: “Authorities were alerted just after 9am yesterday, Tuesday 13 December, after the seven metre boat containing two men and a woman failed to return to the Cape Jaffa boat ramp on Monday night.”

Search continues for family missing off Cape Jaffa, Australia

The bucket and plastic tub found by the authorities

“Police Water Operations Unit are coordinating the search between Beachport and The Granites about 20kms north of Kingston.”

“In the early hours of this morning, the tub and bucket were found on the beach about 40kms north of Kingston.”

“About 2000 square nautical miles of sea has been searched so far, AusSar (Australian Search and Rescue) will continue searching using their Dornier aircraft, along with five helicopters and five vessels.”

Vandepeer family missing off Cape Jaffa, Australia

Len, Doug and Annette Vandepeer. They have not been seen since Monday.

“The search will continue this morning including SES volunteers in 4WD vehicles searching along the coast north of Kingston,” concluded the statement.

The Vandepeer’s vehicle and trailer remain at the Cape Jaffa boat ramp car park.

The authorities were alerted to their disappearance by a family member.

It is unclear as to whether the family were going on a fishing or diving trip or exactly where they were heading.

Life jackets are believed to be on board the vessel, along with an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), which has not been activated.

At the time of the boat’s disappearance, conditions off Cape Jaffa were described as calm.