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Elderly couple's fishing trip ends in tragedy, both bodies recovered

A fishing trip has ended in tragedy after the bodies of a 90-year-old woman and a 89-year-old man were found near Baffle Creek, north of Bundaberg.

The man was found on Monday afternoon while the body of the woman was located on Tuesday morning.

The pair left to go fishing on Baffle Creek, 60 kilometres north of Bundaberg, about 5.30am on Monday.

A fisherman found the body of the man about 4.40pm yesterday afternoon, their boat was located at 7am on Tuesday as the search continued for the woman who was found abut three hours later.

“It’s extremely sad and distressing, they’ve gone out fishing for the day and it’s turned into tragedy,” Bundaberg police inspector Pat Swindells said at a press conference.

Baffle Creek is located north of Bundaberg. Source: Supplied
Baffle Creek is located north of Bundaberg. Source: Supplied
Bundaberg police inspector Pat Swindells addressing the media. Source: 7 News
Bundaberg police inspector Pat Swindells addressing the media. Source: 7 News

“The female’s been located deceased on Rules beach north of Baffle Creek,” he continued.

“At this stage all we know is that they are a male and female in their 90s from Bundaberg."

Police, SES members, and Volunteer Marine Rescue VMR from Rosedale and Bundaberg were deployed to search for the missing woman on Tuesday morning.

The area where the pair went fishing. Source: Google Maps
The area where the pair went fishing. Source: Google Maps

Inspector Swindells described conditions on Monday afternoon as "quite windy".

“Once we recover the body, we will have the female identified," he said.

"At this stage investigations indicate that there were no suspicious circumstances.

“How the male came to be in the water is yet to be determined and this will form part of our investigation. “