The alarm was raised after Dean Lauritsen’s boat was discovered submerged in the channel near No. 44 beacon last night.

The boat is thought to have hit the beacon and sunk.

It is a double-tragedy for the family because Dean’s brother Brendan died in a car crash in the north of the State only weeks ago.

Last night, the State Emergency Service in two boats and the State rescue helicopter, equipped with heat-seeking equipment, search-ed the gulf for the fisherman, aged 40.

Today five boats, including two inflatable craft, were involved in the operation.

The fisherman was last seen at the boat ramp about 5.30pm yesterday before heading out into the river.

About 11.40pm, a call was received at the police station reporting him as being overdue in returning from his fishing trip. This morning the helicopter was checking inaccessible ground together with the SES, the smelter’s security personnel and police officers.

Police divers were expected to recover the fishing boat which was blocking the channel and was a shipping hazard.

An incoming ship was forced to drop anchor this morning in the gulf because entry to the harbor was blocked.

The search was being co-ordinated by acting Chief Inspector Steve Kameniar, of North East Local Service Area, who thanked the SES for its role.

Fishermen have been going down to the sea for generations in Port Pirie.

By and large, it has been a safe journey, even for those who spent weeks in the gulf in the early days of Italian seafaring.

This morning, the body of a fisherman was retrieved off Port Pirie after his boat was found submerged in the channel.

The Recorder extends its condolences to the family of the fisherman, Dean Lauritsen, 40.

The community is shocked that a traditionally safe pastime could turn to tragedy.

It shows how swiftly fate can turn against the average person and how unforgiving it can be when travelling the sea.