A fishing expedition off the coast of New Castle ended in tragedy when 58-year-old Paul Barning was pulled overboard by a large mako shark. Authorities have suspended the search after 3 days of extensive efforts.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Sunday during the Game Fishing Association’s state tournament near Port Stephens. Barning, an experienced fisherman and secretary of the Port Hacking Game Fishing Club, was attempting to reel in the shark when he became entangled in the fishing line. The shark submerged, dragging him into the water. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time.
Superintendent Joe McNulty of the New South Wales Police Marine Area Command stated that after the entanglement, the shark submerged, pulling Barning into the water. Authorities confirmed there was no evidence of a shark attack, calling it a tragic accident caused by the entanglement.
No Stranger to Pulling in Huge Sharks
“Paul Barning, current secretary, past president, and life member of Port Hacking Game Fishing Club, was a highly experienced game fisherman,” said NSW GFA president Steve Lamond. “He was tragically lost at sea in the most unlikely of circumstances while fishing on his boat ‘Dark Horse’ off Port Stephens on Sunday.
The search operation covered over 1,500 nautical miles. It involved water police, marine rescue teams, and aerial support. Despite extensive efforts, Barning was not located, and the search was suspended on Tuesday evening.
In response to the tragedy, the New South Wales Game Fishing Association launched a fundraiser to support Barning’s family, raising over $125,000 by Tuesday morning. Association president Steve Lamond described the incident as a freak tragedy and extended thoughts and prayers to Barning’s wife, Leonie, and their three children.
Authorities emphasized the importance of safety measures, particularly wearing life jackets when engaging in offshore fishing. Superintendent McNulty noted that a life jacket may have assisted in Barning’s recovery.
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