Family joins massive search for missing surf skier off Stradbroke Island
Missing surf skier Jordan Kelly's family has flown into Queensland from New Zealand as the search for the 26-year-old continues.
Police hold grave fears for Mr Kelly, who left Dunwich at North Stradbroke Island with his friend Jack McDonald, 28, at 10.30am on Saturday, heading for Cylinder Beach.
As they made their way through dangerous conditions just after 1.30pm, Mr McDonald's ski started taking on water and Mr Kelly tried to help him.
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Jordan Kelly (right) and Jack McDonald were believed to be out training for a sports event. Nine
Queensland water police acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray told reporters the men both held on to the one ski until after dark when they had become weak and tired from being in the water, resulting in Mr Kelly "slipping away".
Authorities were alerted when the men failed to arrive at their camp in the afternoon to meet their partners.
More than a dozen boats and aircraft, from the Brisbane water police, Surf Life Saving Queensland and the Coastguard have been deployed in the search efforts to find Mr Kelly, with more than a dozen civilian boats also joining the hunt.
Mr Kelly's family, originally from New Zealand, flew into Brisbane to help with the ongoing search efforts, which were hampered on Monday morning by rough water conditions.
The pair took on water after travelling through dangerous conditions near north Stradbroke Island. Nine
His sister posted a plea on social media to locals to join the search.
"We are desperate for community help – obviously not being from here we are feeling very isolated and helpless," the post to social media said.
"Time is critical and we need as many volunteers searching the water as possible."
The call has been answered by a local family with a special understanding of the Kelly family's despair. Trent Riley went missing in Morton Bay while fishing just six weeks ago.
Trent's mother and brothers today coordinated a search effort for Mr Kelly with volunteers.
"As soon as we heard the news it struck a chord with us," Trent's brother, Shannon, told 9News.
Water police, coast guard and civilian watercraft have been deployed to help find Mr Kelly. Nine
"Pacing around the house, we couldn't just sit around and just do nothing.
"Even if there was a 1 per cent chance, then you've got to try. You've got to do it."
Authorities believe the surf skiers hit trouble in the notoriously dangerous South Passage Bar.
At 8pm on Saturday night, after being at sea for some 10 hours, Mr McDonald managed to make his way to Amity Point Wharf.
He was treated at the scene for minor hypothermia and later reunited with his family.
Senior Sergeant Gray said swells had been between four to six metres high with south-easterly winds up to 20 to 30 knots.
"To describe the conditions, I would say they are hazardous," he said.
Authorities believe the pair hit trouble in the notoriously dangerous South Passage Bar. Nine
"Not suitable for the activity they had planned to do.
"We're doing everything we can, with everything we've got.
"We've got over 16 vessels and we've got eight aircrafts which have flown over 440 square nautical miles of ocean to try and find him."
Senior Sergeant Gray said as time went on "we become more and more concerned we will not have a happy ending".
Mr Kelly is understood to be in good physical health and was training for a surf ski event at the Sunshine Coast, giving authorities some hope.
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