Still no signs of possible distressed swimmer at Denmark’s Ocean Beach after marine search launched

Police launched a frantic marine search off the coast of the State’s Great Southern after life savers lost sign of a person in distress on Thursday afternoon. Just after 4pm surf life savers reported seeing what they believed was a swimmer in distress about 100m off Ocean Beach in Denmark. Police from the Great Southern District said as the life savers paddled out they lost sight of the possible swimmer, and no sightings have been seen since. One member of the public returned to the shore a short time later, but they are not believed to be the same person. “Until further clarification around the incident is confirmed, a marine search operation has been commenced involving a Surf Life Saving WA jet ski, a DFES Marine Rescue Denmark vessel and a police drone,” police said in a statement. The search was called off at 8.20pm with still no confirmed sightings of a person in trouble. A police spokesman said a decision would be made on whether authorities begin searching again at first light. Police would like to speak to anyone who saw someone swimming off Ocean Beach around 4pm and onwards, or from anyone who was swimming that far off the coast and who has since returned home. In March last year, Denmark embryologist Dr Stephen Junk was praised by police for rescuing three men and retrieving the body of their friend at Greens Pool, near Denmark. The group of four visitors from Perth got into trouble 70m offshore at the idyllic tourist hotspot in William Bay National Park when Dr Junk saved three of them but the fourth person could not be revived. In January, Maya Dunkerley, 12, and Samara Dunkerley, 10, were also praised for their part in a successful water rescue of an 80-year-old man and his 83-year-old friend in the Wilson Inlet. Anyone with information about the possible missing swimmer at Ocean Beach should contact Denmark police by calling 131 444.