TRAGEDY ON THE MURRAY RIVER: BODY FOUND AFTER FOUR-DAY SEARCH FOR MISSING FISHERMAN PATRICK EVANS, 39

TOCUMWAL, AUSTRALIA — A desperate search for missing fisherman Patrick Evans has taken a heartbreaking turn after emergency crews discovered a body in the Murray River, four days after the 39-year-old disappeared during a fishing trip.

Authorities believe the body may be that of Evans, who was last seen near Pebbly Beach campground on the Victorian side of the Murray River on Friday, October 16. As of October 21, police have not formally confirmed the identification, and the circumstances surrounding the discovery remain under investigation.

A MORNING THAT ENDED IN MYSTERY

According to police, Evans was last seen at approximately 10:30 a.m. Friday at Pebbly Beach campground, near the town of Tocumwal along the New South Wales–Victoria border.

Investigators believe he headed out onto the river in a small boat around midday to go fishing.

But what happened next sparked growing concern.

A witness reportedly heard cries for help coming from the river. When the witness went to investigate, they discovered a small, unmanned boat circling on the water.

Evans was nowhere to be found.

The alarming discovery prompted authorities to launch an urgent search operation, as police and family members feared for his safety.

MASSIVE SEARCH OPERATION LAUNCHED

The search began on Saturday, October 17, with multiple emergency services joining forces to locate the missing fisherman.

Officers from the Murray River Police District coordinated the operation, receiving assistance from the State Emergency Service, NSW Maritime, Victoria Police, Marine Rescue volunteers and police divers.

The search expanded over the following days, involving aerial support, police drones, boats and teams of volunteers scanning sections of the river.

Crews focused their efforts around Tocumwal, including areas near the Newell Highway Bridge and a nearby railway bridge.

Despite the extensive operation, Evans remained missing as search teams continued working to establish what had happened.

BODY DISCOVERED NEAR TOCUMWAL

On Tuesday, October 20, emergency services located a body during a surface search of the Murray River, adjacent to Tocumwal National Park.

Police said the body was believed to be that of the 39-year-old man reported missing from the area several days earlier.

However, authorities had not formally identified the body at the time of the reports. The cause and manner of death have also not been publicly established.

A report is to be prepared for the NSW Coroner as investigators work to clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

WHO WAS PATRICK EVANS?

Police described Evans as approximately 175 centimeters (5 feet 9 inches) tall, with a thin build, a brown moustache and beard, and medium-length brown-blond hair.

He was last seen at Pebbly Beach campground, a popular riverside location on the Victorian side of the Murray River.

As news of the discovery emerged, the case highlighted the uncertainty faced by families when a loved one disappears without explanation. The official circumstances of Evans’s disappearance and the events that followed have yet to be fully established.

QUESTIONS REMAIN AS INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

One of the central questions remains what happened between Evans setting out to fish around midday Friday and the witness reportedly hearing cries for help and finding the empty boat.

At this stage, authorities have not publicly established the precise sequence of events or confirmed the cause of death.

The discovery of the body marks a significant development in the search, but formal identification and further investigative findings are needed before the circumstances can be determined.

The Murray River, which forms part of the border between New South Wales and Victoria, is a popular destination for fishing, boating and camping. Police have also reminded the public to take precautions around waterways, including wearing life jackets while boating and avoiding alcohol around the water.

For now, the investigation continues as authorities work to establish the facts surrounding Patrick Evans’s disappearance and the discovery that followed.

This is a developing story. Further details may be released as police confirm the man’s identity and the circumstances surrounding his death.