Australian Fisherman Missing After Shark-Related Accident During Competition
Paul Barning, an experienced game fisher, was pulled overboard after becoming entangled in a fishing line hooked to a large mako shark off Newcastle's coast.
- Paul Barning, 58, went missing during a game fishing competition 55 kilometers off Newcastle, New South Wales, on Sunday afternoon.
- Authorities report that Barning was entangled in a fishing line connected to a mako shark, which dragged him overboard; there is no evidence of a shark attack.
- Three other crew members on the boat attempted to rescue Barning but were only able to retrieve the shark; he was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the incident.
- A multi-agency search, covering over 1,500 nautical miles and involving air and sea teams, continues to locate Barning, a life member of the Port Hacking Game Fishing Club.
- The incident has been described as a 'freak tragedy' by the New South Wales Game Fishing Association, highlighting the inherent risks of game fishing.
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