Sonar used in search for family missing after boat trip
Police in South Australia are set to use sonar technology as they today resume their hunt for a family who did not return from a boat trip almost a month ago.
Len and Annette Vandepeer, both 56, and their 27-year-old son Doug set out on their boat from Cape Jaffa in the state's southeast on December 12 and failed to return in the evening.
An extensive air, sea and land search for the missing trio and their seven-metre boat was called off on December 19, with the family conceding their loved ones had likely died.
Annette, Doug and Len Vanderpeer. Photo: Supplied
Search boats were called back as hopes of finding survivors faded. Photo: 7 News
“The water’s pretty cold. I wouldn’t like to be in the water for too long a time," fisherman Don Mockett told 7 News when the trio first disappeared.
The SA Police water unit will on Wednesday begin a new search for the Vandepeers.
Police say they will use side-scan sonar to search the sea floor for the boat in a four-day operation.
There has been an outpouring of support for the family with many friends paying tribute to the beloved trio.
"Len, he was a very quiet person, but very knowledgeable. Very good farmers," Lynton McInnes said.
"Annette, she was a really nice lady."
News break - January 4
