Search Continues for Missing Fisherman Francis Kerr After 8 Months

Police are still searching for Francis Kerr, a fisherman who went missing nearly 8 months ago and is believed to have fallen from his boat off the coast of Raglan, New Zealand. Kerr, who was fishing alone at the time, made a distress call over maritime radio around 10am on the day of his disappearance, stating he was experiencing a medical event.

Shortly after the radio call, Kerr activated his emergency locator beacon, prompting rescue teams to spring into action. They were able to locate Kerr's empty, anchored boat approximately 8 nautical miles off the coast. However, despite extensive searches on the water and from the air, no sign of Kerr has been found.

The police national dive squad has joined the ongoing search efforts in hopes of locating the missing fisherman. Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen Kerr fishing on the day he vanished or who has any information that could assist in the search to come forward.

Why this matters: The prolonged search for Francis Kerr highlights the dangers faced by solo fishermen and the importance of marine safety measures. The case also underscores the dedication of rescue teams who continue to search for missing persons even months after their disappearance.

Police remain committed to finding Kerr and providing closure for his family. "We are asking anyone who saw the man fishing yesterday or has information that could assist in locating him to come forward," a police spokesperson stated. As the search stretches into its eighth month, authorities are thoroughly investigating every possibility in their efforts to determine what happened to Francis Kerr on that fateful day.

Key Takeaways

• Fisherman Francis Kerr went missing 8 months ago off Raglan, NZ coast.
• Kerr made distress call, activated locator beacon, but no sign of him found.
• Police dive squad joins ongoing search efforts to locate the missing fisherman.
• Case highlights dangers faced by solo fishermen and importance of marine safety.
• Police urge anyone with information to come forward as search continues.