Police are searching for three people in South Australia’s Riverland including a teenage girl who fell into the Murray River on New Year’s Eve.
Key points:
- A teenager and two men are missing after separate incidents in the Riverland
- The teenage girl was seen to fall from a houseboat into the Murray River
- The two men took a pedal boat onto Lake Bonney
Emergency services are also looking for two unidentified men who were spotted taking a pedal boat onto Lake Bonney at Barmera early this morning.
In the first incident, the 17-year-old was seen to fall from a houseboat into the Murray River south of Swan Reach.
She did not resurface and the alarm was raised about 9:15pm, police said.
Police and the State Emergency Service (SES) have searched for the girl, including with the help of a police helicopter, but she has not been found.
Searches have resumed this morning with the assistance of SA Police’s Water Operations unit, “in the water and along the riverbanks”.
Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said while “it’s not looking good”, police and volunteers are desperately trying to locate the missing teenager.
“People who were on the houseboat have tried looking for the teenager and police and emergency services have responded and searched last night as well, unfortunately to no avail.
“The search has resumed again this morning with police and volunteers both on the land and on the river.
“We’ve also sent the Water Operations unit and divers to the river.”
In the other incident, two men were seen taking a hired pedal boat onto Lake Bonney about 2am.
The boat was found along with an esky and personal items including clothes, but the men have not been located.
The SES has searched the lake and foreshore and has continued to do so this morning from the water, ground and air.
“We haven’t had any reports of missing people at this point in time, which is actually frustrating our search effort to try and understand who these two people might be,” Assistant Commissioner Parrott said.
“We also have an extensive search effort going at Lake Bonney … to try and locate these two males.”
Police urged anyone who might know their identities to notify them on 131 444.
SA Police’s Operation Riversafe, which promotes sensible river behaviour and life jacket compliance, comes into effect today.
New Year’s celebrations were accompanied by very hot weather across South Australia.
SA Police said the event was “generally peaceful” and characterised by a “high level of cooperation” amid COVID-19 control measures.
Fifty-seven arrests were made and 41 people were reported, mostly for traffic offences, while 113 expiation notices were issued for offences including drug and alcohol breaches and anti-social behaviour.
Two drivers were caught more than four times the legal alcohol limit.
Social distancing measures at public venues led to reduced crowds including at Adelaide Oval for the Big Bash League match between the Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder.
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