Man In Drifting Dinghy Rescued

[mrmoshe]

Man in drifting dinghy rescued

A MAN who went missing in a small dinghy off the coast of a remote Northern Territory community has been found following an extensive sea search.

The 40-year-old man set off in the 5m boat from Port Bradshaw, south of Nhulunbuy, about 4am (CST) yesterday morning, police said.

He left the Dhanaya Outstation, telling a relative he was going to another community located across the bay.

But the relative contacted police after noticing the man went straight out to sea, travelling in the wrong direction with limited fuel on board.

Storms and rain prevented a local vessel from searching the area, although a helicopter assisted police in an extensive search of the coastline yesterday afternoon.

They worked with Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Service Officers, Dhimurru Rangers and local volunteers in a ground and local waters search today.

The man, who appears to be in good health, was spotted late this afternoon.

He will be transported to the Gove Hospital for assessment, police said.