Volunteers from Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie continue to search for missing 23-year-old Luke Smith after the boat he was aboard capsized near Swansea at the weekend.

The group of rescuers are part of a multi-agency operation that has been hoping to locate the young father since he was involved in an incident shortly after 8pm on Saturday 6 July.

Mr Smith was one of four men on a fishing trip.

The three other passengers were located and rescued shortly after by crew aboard a nearby leisure vessel.

The men are believed to have been tossed into the water near Channel Street after their small boat hit a buoy and overturned in rough seas.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Courtney Greenslade said a volunteer crew was deployed earlier on Monday morning 8 July.

“Marine Rescue NSW vessel Lake Macquarie 20 was back on water at 7.40am to assist NSW Police Marine Area Command.

“Lake Macquarie 20 has been maintaining a coordinated line search with NSW Water Police.

“Conditions are calm and visibility is reasonable.

“The Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie crews will continue searching until instructed otherwise by Marine Area Command,” Inspector Greenslade said.

FOOTNOTE: Unfortunately, the search was suspended at 4.30pm due to poor light.

However, it is expected to resume on Tuesday 9 July from 8am.

The search, being led by NSW Police Marine Area Command, includes personnel from Lake Macquarie Police District, PolAir, Marine Rescue, Toll Rescue Helicopter, Surf Life Saving NSW and NSW SES.

Anyone with information into the incident is urged to phone police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

For more on this developing news story:

Search for missing man after boat capsizes Swansea

A horror weekend in our region:

• July 7 – Knife attack Morpeth
• July 7 – Lake Mac police officer injured during arrest
• July 6 – Trail bike rider dies in Hunter
• July 6 – Teenage boy dies in fatal crash Salt Ash

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