By Blake Doyle, Giselle Wakatama, Bruce MacKenzie and Keely Johnson, for ABC
A Sydney man is missing after authorities say he was pulled into the water by a shark in a freak accident. Pictured: A Marine Rescue Port Stephens boat. Photo: Supplied / NSW Marine Rescue
- A Sydney man, identified by the NSW Game Fishing Association as Paul Barning, fell overboard during a fishing competition north of Newcastle, on Sunday.
- Police say Barning was dragged into the water by the shark when he became tangled in tackle and that it was not a shark attack.
- What's next? An air and sea search for the missing man will continue further south.
Marine police say a missing Sydney fisherman was not attacked by a shark but dragged into the water by it after he became entangled in fishing gear.
A multi-agency air and sea search will continue on Tuesday for the man, identified by New South Wales Game Fishing Association as Paul Barning.
Paul Barning fell overboard during a game fishing competition near Newcastle. Photo: Facebook
The life member of the Port Hacking Game Fishing Club was taking part in a tournament about 55 kilometres off the coast of Port Stephens when it is believed he became caught in fishing line and fell overboard.
Passengers aboard a recreational fishing vessel reported seeing a person being dragged into the water by a shark.
NSW Ambulance confirmed Marine Rescue received a radio call that someone had fallen overboard and that a shark was involved.
On Monday afternoon, Superintendent Joe McNulty from New South Wales Police Marine Area Command confirmed a shark had been reeled in, but it did not attack.
"The fishing boat at the time was retrieving a mako shark and we believe during that manoeuvre the man has become entangled in the fishing gear and has been forced over the side," he said.
Mako sharks can reach four metres in length.
"At no time did that man resurface," Superintendent McNulty said.
"There is no evidence to say that shark has attacked the person in the water."
NSW Marine Police Superintendent Joe McNulty says there was no evidence of a shark attack. Photo: Supplied/ ABC News
Freak tragedy
The NSW Game Fishing Association on Monday said Barning was "tragically lost at sea in the most unlikely circumstances".
NSW Game Fishing president Steve Lamond described the incident as a "something that you are not likely to ever see again".
NSW Game Fishing president Steve Lamond says the incident was a "freak tragedy". Photo: Supplied/ ABC News
"Definitely no shark attack, as such, involved," he said.
"It was absolutely just a freak tragedy that has occurred during an attempt to capture a fish.
"It's never happened before in Australia to my knowledge."
Paul Barning was reportedly pulled overboard off the coast of Port Stephens, NSW. Photo: Supplied/ ABC News
Game fishing is a type of offshore sport fishing that involves catching large fish known for their size and fighting ability, such as marlin, sharks and tuna.
The incident happened in the same area where anglers reported three great white sharks circling their boat during a competition held last weekend.
Superintendent McNulty said Barning was not wearing a life jacket.
The search for Barning will be expanded to waters south of Port Kembla on Tuesday.
- This story was first published by ABC
