LIVE UPDATE: Witnesses report brief, eerie boat drift coinciding with loss of contact in Ash Haigh disappearance
A new layer of intrigue has emerged in the search for missing Gold Coast fisherman Ash Haigh, as witnesses have come forward describing a fleeting but disturbing observation: a boat—believed to match the description of Haigh’s black half-cabin vessel, The Grey Ghost—drifting noticeably off course for less than 60 seconds. According to accounts provided to police, the bow slowly turned with the current before the craft appeared to disappear from sight, an event that aligns closely with the approximate time Haigh’s family lost all contact with him.
The sighting, reported by mariners in the offshore area, has been described as brief and difficult to interpret—possibly due to distance, sea conditions, or the vessel’s low profile against the horizon. Investigators are treating the testimony seriously, as it may represent the last visual confirmation of the boat’s movement before it was found unmanned and adrift approximately 46 km (25 nautical miles) southeast of Burleigh Heads around 2 a.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Haigh, 44, a highly experienced game fisherman and former president of the Gold Coast Game Fish Club, departed from The Spit (near Runaway Bay Marina) just after 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 5, intent on a solo marlin fishing trip. Calm seas and favorable weather made it a routine outing for the safety-conscious skipper, who was expected home for dinner. When he failed to return or respond to radio calls by around 7 p.m., his family alerted authorities.
The unmanned boat’s discovery triggered an immediate and massive search operation involving Queensland Police Water Police, NSW counterparts, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, volunteer vessels, and friends from the fishing community. The effort expanded across state borders, guided by drift models, currents, and wind data.
Key earlier findings include:
Only one fishing rod remained onboard, despite Haigh typically carrying multiple—potentially indicating a struggle with a large marlin.
One life jacket missing from the expected four, raising hopes he may have been wearing it if he went overboard.
An inactive EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) registered to Haigh, recovered floating about 14 nautical miles off Ballina, NSW, on Saturday, February 7—untriggered and detached, deepening the mystery.
The latest witness accounts add a critical temporal link: the brief drift and “disappearance” from view coincide with when family contact ceased. Police are working to reconcile these reports with other data, including mobile phone pings (which dropped out in a spotty offshore zone) and any conflicting sea-based testimonies that have previously complicated triangulation.
Such short-duration sightings are challenging in open ocean searches—visibility can be affected by swell, glare, or distance—but they help refine search grids. Authorities have appealed for additional witnesses to provide precise times, positions, or photos if available.
By Sunday, February 8, the operation shifted to a “recovery phase,” with Queensland Police stating: “The search and rescue operation has now transitioned into the recovery phase, and officers continue to be in contact with the man’s family.” Despite this, teams persist in targeted sweeps, driven by the new lead and the enduring hope tied to the missing life jacket.
Haigh’s family remains in profound distress. His parents spoke of time standing still, watching every helicopter and boat until their eyes burned, hearts sinking with each false sighting on the water. His wife’s earlier plea—“Please… bring him home. Our children need their dad”—continues to resonate across the community.
Friends describe Haigh as the “backbone” of the local game fishing scene—a dedicated husband, father, and mentor who lived for the ocean. Premier David Crisafulli called the situation “a real tragedy,” acknowledging the collective grief.
The brief drift observation serves as a haunting snapshot: a capable vessel suddenly veering, then vanishing from sight in under a minute. Whether due to a powerful fish strike pulling Haigh overboard, a sudden medical event, rogue wave, or other mishap, the exact sequence remains unknown. Yet this witness detail keeps investigators—and a grieving community—focused on the narrow window where everything changed.
Search efforts continue, scanning for any sign: the telltale orange flash of a life jacket, debris, or closure. In the vast east coast waters, even fleeting clues carry weight.
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