Police call off search for kayaker
Police have called off the search for a 20-year-old Woy Woy man who went missing on Brisbane Water on June 12.
Former Newcastle Knights forward Ryan Sainty left home at around 12.30pm after telling his mother he was going for a paddle on Brisbane Water as he regularly did.
According to police, Mr Sainty's blue kayak was found floating upside down, 200 metres off the Saratoga end of Paddy's Channel at around 3pm.
His spray jacket and paddle were still attached to the surf ski.
Police continued a 10-day extensive search of the area where it is reported Mr Sainty was last spotted by a passer-by struggling with his kayak off Saratoga.
Gosford Police duty officer Sergeant Bruce Coates said that police had been unable to locate Mr Sainty after an extensive search of the area.
"It's a terribly unfortunate situation that we haven't been able to locate Ryan," said Sergeant Coates.
"It's a horrible situation for the police and even more so for the family.
"While the search has been called off, the investigation is still continuing and we urge anyone with any information to contact Gosford Police," Sergeant Coates said.
Sergeant Coates said that the police did not believe any suspicious behaviour was involved.
Police were also assisted in their search for the missing kayaker by the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, Polair and Water Police.
Coastal Patrol publicity officer Mr Ron Cole said the decision was made by police to abandon the search on June 21, after police divers scouring the water off Saratoga were not successful in locating the missing man.
"The patrol began assisting police on Friday, June 12, when the man was reported missing," Mr Cole said.
"A major search was conducted through Friday night and included use of the Police helicopter with heat-seeking equipment.
"The police coordinated search resumed on Saturday, June 13, with all three patrol lifeboats actively involved together with the police vessel, a NSW Maritime vessel, a surf club RIB, and eventually other kayaks and some launches hired locally by friends.
"The entire foreshore was covered including under jetties and docks.
"Senior officers of Coastal Patrol liaised with the police in charge of the search providing information of tidal flow, current movements and other local knowledge of the waterway."
Clare Graham, Kevin Holloway, 26 Jun 2009
Interviewee: Sergeant Bruce Coates
Press release, 14 Jun 2009
Ron Cole, Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol Central Coast