Yanchep beach search suspended
The search has been suspended for a 30-year-old man missing at a popular Yanchep beach.
Police initially held hopes of finding the man who was caught in a strong rip at Yanchep lagoon late on Saturday.
The search resumed early this morning but was suspended at midday. Local police will continue to patrol the beaches over the next few days.
The man, 30, believed to be from the US, had been at Yanchep Lagoon on Saturday afternoon with friends and extended family.
It is understood the group had been drinking alcohol on the beach when the man entered the water, attempting to swim out to a post stuck in a reef.
The man is believed to have been only about 30m from the shore when he was caught in the rip.
Friends alerted authorities about his disappearance soon after 6pm.
They had last seen him waving his arms for help.
The beach was not patrolled by lifeguards at the time.
The police helicopter arrived within 20 minutes and despite "excellent visibility" was unable to find the man.
The search resumed at 6am yesterday with water police, divers, Two Rocks volunteer marine rescue boats, Surf Life Saving WA jetskis and the police helicopter covering an area 1.8km out and almost 10km north of the lagoon.
Yanchep police officer-in-charge Sgt Jason Macander said rescuers were remaining positive about finding the man.
"As time goes by, in any search on land or in the ocean, the fears are increased," Sgt Macander said.
"We've certainly heard stories of people surviving and we're hopeful that maybe he may walk out along the beach."
Police are looking at the possible involvement of a shark.
A great white shark reportedly followed a surfer at Leeman's Landing, near Two Rocks, about 8km north of Yanchep Lagoon, at 10.20am yesterday.
The search will resume at first light today.
Two people have drowned at the lagoon in the past five years.
