Hopes fade for family lost at sea as authorities scale back search

The search for a family of three missing at sea off Cape Jaffa in South Australia has been scaled back.

Hopes are fading fast of finding them alive as those close to the Vandepeers pay tribute to them.

With every passing our, darkest fears grow.

“The water’s pretty cold. I wouldn’t like to be in the water for too long a time," fisherman Don Mockett said.

“No, it’s not looking good.”

There has been an outpouring of support for the family of Len and Annette Vandepeer and their young son Doug, as friends pay tribute.

"Len, he was a very quiet person, but very knowledgeable. Very good farmers," Lynton McInnes said.

"Annette, she was a really nice lady."

Mr Mockett said: “They were heavily involved in golf and things like that. They’ve been here a long time and were known around the town”.

Crews continued their frantic search on Wednesday from the sea, the ground and the air.

A bucket, a container and a seat, all from the Vandepeers’ boat, were discovered washed up on the beach north of Kingston South East.

“Unfortunately the seat would indicate that the boat is no longer upright,” Detective Superintendent Grant Moyle said.

“Probably whatever happened to [the boat] happened very quickly.”

Late on Wednesday afternoon the boats were called off and police say it is unlikely survivors would be found.

“The family, as you can understand, are deeply distressed and trying to come to grips with the circumstances of this very tragic event,” Detective Superintendent Moyle said.

There is still no indications as to what happened but police said it appears the family did not have time to call for help.