A TIGHT-KNIT fishing village has been rocked by the death of an experienced deckhand off the state's South coast. The body of 73-year-old Allan Geoffrey Russell, known as Joe, was discovered early on Wednesday morning about a kilometre offshore. The Dover fisherman went missing on Tuesday afternoon after his dinghy capsized. Mr Russell had been abalone fishing with another man, who police say was underwater when large waves hit their vessel in otherwise fine conditions. Inspector Lee Renshaw said the diver returned to the surface to find the vessel upturned and Mr Russell clinging to its side. "He tried as best as possible to attach his deckhand to the upturned dinghy by using his hook line and all sorts of things, but sadly all those efforts were futile," he said. "He apparently held on to him for up to 50 minutes and sadly could hang on to him no longer because the deckhand had no strength left and fell into the water." The diver swam to some remote rocks, activated a safety beacon, and was rescued late on Tuesday afternoon. But Mr Russell's body was not located until Wednesday morning, when it was retrieved and brought ashore by two friends and fellow fishermen. Huon Valley mayor Peter Coad described Mr Russell's death as a tragic loss for a community already doing it tough. "Everyone knows everyone, so a loss like this of someone that's been in the community such a long time is really disappointing," Cr Coad said. "I'm sure the community will rally behind the families and give them every possible support." Inspector Renshaw said there was a clear message to be drawn from the tragedy, with Mr Russell not wearing a personal flotation device. "The message we say over and over and over again is to wear PFDs," he said. "If this gentleman had have been wearing a Stormy Seas or another form of personal flotation device, the result may have been different." A report is being prepared for the coroner.
A TIGHT-KNIT fishing village has been rocked by the death of an experienced deckhand off the state's South coast.
The body of 73-year-old Allan Geoffrey Russell, known as Joe, was discovered early on Wednesday morning about a kilometre offshore.
The Dover fisherman went missing on Tuesday afternoon after his dinghy capsized.
Mr Russell had been abalone fishing with another man, who police say was underwater when large waves hit their vessel in otherwise fine conditions.
Inspector Lee Renshaw said the diver returned to the surface to find the vessel upturned and Mr Russell clinging to its side.
"He tried as best as possible to attach his deckhand to the upturned dinghy by using his hook line and all sorts of things, but sadly all those efforts were futile," he said.
"He apparently held on to him for up to 50 minutes and sadly could hang on to him no longer because the deckhand had no strength left and fell into the water."
The diver swam to some remote rocks, activated a safety beacon, and was rescued late on Tuesday afternoon.
But Mr Russell's body was not located until Wednesday morning, when it was retrieved and brought ashore by two friends and fellow fishermen.
Huon Valley mayor Peter Coad described Mr Russell's death as a tragic loss for a community already doing it tough.
"Everyone knows everyone, so a loss like this of someone that's been in the community such a long time is really disappointing," Cr Coad said.
"I'm sure the community will rally behind the families and give them every possible support."
Inspector Renshaw said there was a clear message to be drawn from the tragedy, with Mr Russell not wearing a personal flotation device.
"The message we say over and over and over again is to wear PFDs," he said.
"If this gentleman had have been wearing a Stormy Seas or another form of personal flotation device, the result may have been different."
