Editor: It's with a heavy heart that we publish this story - David Scheen from Victoria, Australia is missing after setting out on a training paddle yesterday. I met David in Hawaii earlier this year where he paddled the Molokai Challenge - he's a strong paddler, but the story looks grim. Keep him in your thoughts and let's hope for a positive outcome...
"Hopes are fading for a 39-year-old surf skier missing since Monday off Victoria's rugged south-west coast.
Land and air searches will continue this morning amid windy and rainy conditions, but rough surf has delayed a sea search until at least this afternoon.
Searchers have alreadyfound a broken surf kayak and life jacket believed to belong to international-class surf skier David Scheen, who competed in the Molokai World Solo Championships in May.
His hat was found about 150 metres offshore from the inlet yesterday and his mobile phone was found washed up on the Murnanes Bay beach.
The Peterborough man disappeared on Monday after setting off on a 20-kilometre training paddle from Murnanes Bay to Peterborough, near Warrnambool, 260 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.
Mr Scheen was seen by two tourists setting off from Childers Cove at 12.30pm, and the alarm was raised when he failed to return home by 5.40pm Monday.
State Emergency Service search co-ordinator Gerry Billings said police and SES workers will search the coastline between Stanhope Bay and Murnanes Bay today.
"There is a slim hope that we will find him alive, but those hopes are fading,'' Mr Billings said.
He said the rough seas meant boats could not get within about 400 metres of the area they needed to search.
A number of police are posted along the clifftops with binoculars, searching for any sign of the surf skier, Mr Billings said.
More than 30 people have now been involved in the search, including surf lifesavers from Port Campbell and CFA members from Peterborough."
Rough seas stop boats as hunt for missing man continues
PETER COLLINS
15/10/2008 10:49:00 AM
SEARCHERS are clinging to a slim hope that missing Peterborough surf skiier David Scheen is still alive.
They will continue to search the ocean around rugged cliffs around Childers Cove, near Allansford, this morning.
The 39-year-old international-class competitor disappeared on Monday afternoon after setting off on a 20-kilometre training paddle from Murnanes Bay to Peterborough.
Despite an extensive air-and-ground search since 5pm on Monday he still remains unaccounted for.
Ocean conditions for the past two days have been described as ``fairly treacherous''.
Dangerous surf conditions prevented boats being launched to join the search yesterday.
Mr Scheen's competition surf ski was found smashed against a rocky inlet just east of his launch site on Monday, along with a life vest.
Yesterday his hat was found about 150 metres offshore from the inlet and his mobile telephone on the Murnanes Bay beach.
SES controller Gerry Billings said members had searched the cliff faces and inland 500 metres from shore covering 1.5 kilometres east of the bay.
They did a low-tide sweep of the coastline early yesterday.
They were also searching the shoreline and cliffs precinct a further 2.5km west of the bay.
``These are fairly treacherous conditions and (Monday) night it was even rougher,'' Mr Billings said.
Search co-ordinator, Senior Sergeant Paul Hargreaves of Warrnambool police, told The Standard: ``We hold hope he has made his way to a safety point''.
Yesterday there was an easterly current with waves of one to two metres, a swell of four to five metres and severe turbulence around inlets.
"Conditions were not conducive to a water search and it was very hard to get in close to the rocky shore," Senior Sergeant Hargreaves said.
"We are relying on the airwing and ground searches to check rock crevices and smaller caves."
Mr Scheen was last seen by tourists as he headed into the ocean about 12.30pm Monday.
The Melbourne district pair, who had been admiring the scenery on their way to Darwin, contacted police yesterday after a plea for information.
"They told us how they watched as he went into the water. He got hit by a couple of waves and righted himself before paddling off towards the headland," Senior Sergeant Hargreaves said.
"Two other young people driving a New South Wales-registered Ford were also there and we would like to hear from them also."
About 30 searchers including the police air wing, search and rescue and marine unit, police from Warrnambool, Timboon and Port Campbell, SES crews from Warrnambool and Port Campbell, surf lifesavers from Port Campbell and CFA members from Peterborough have been involved.
Searchers in southwest Victoria do not expect to find a missing kayaker alive.
Dave Scheen, 39, of Peterborough was last seen launching his kayak at Childers Cove west of Port Campbell on Monday afternoon.
The search of the coastline has recovered a smashed kayak, a life vest and the man's mobile phone.
This morning, the State Emergency Service (SES) scaled down the search.
SES co-ordinator Gary Billings, says volunteers will be watching to see if the man's body is washed ashore.
"We are looking for a body I believe at this stage, because its fairly rough conditions out there for somebody to survive in those conditions is fairly remote," he said.
Mr Scheen's mother, Robin Scheen is shocked at her son's disappearance.
She said her son was an experienced kayaker.
"[It was] a very unexpected outcome for one of David's training sessions because he was always very professional in his attitude training, safety and health in his sporting activities," she said.
Deepest Sympathies written by Rob Mousley,
October 15, 2008
Message from Oscar Chalupsky:
"May I offer my deepest regret and sorrow to David's family on hearing this news. I also offer thanks to the rescue teams and members of the public who have been helping in the search. I met David in Hawaii and he was an avid surfski paddler and a very good guy. Let's not give up hope.
Oscar Chalupsky, Epic Kayaks International"
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David written by Rob Mousley,
October 15, 2008
What can one say? I just hope that by some miracle Dave will be found alive.
To me Joe Glickman summed up Dave's character very well by saying that he "seemed a gentle soul".
I'll be saying a prayer for him this evening on the water.
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Latest update written by Rob Mousley,
October 15, 2008
Anguish for lost surf skiier 16/10/2008 1:00:00 AM
A life vest was found nearby. The following day his hat was found 150 metres out to sea and his mobile phone washed up on the beach.
Tourists reported seeing him being buffeted by waves as he made his way out past the headland at Murnanes Bay about 12.30pm Monday, intending to paddle the 20 kilometres to Peterborough.
Search co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Paul Hargreaves of Warrnambool revealed yesterday that Mr Scheen had a GPS device on his craft, but it was yet to be found.
Mr Scheen thrived on the adrenalin rush of big-wave surfing, surf ski races, kayaking and kite surfing.
He competed in the world ocean ski championships in Hawaii in May and was considering entering the annual Murray River canoe marathon this summer.
The former triathlete took up surf skiing after shattering his leg in a motorcycle race two years ago.
He had been a regular competitor on the national superbike circuit.
"We will start searching again Thursday morning using appropriate units - the police chopper, land crews, Parks Victoria and possibly Fisheries Victoria," Senior Sergeant Hargreaves said.
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... written by Tim Burke,
October 16, 2008
I had the pleasure hanging out with David at the Molokai. He impressed me as a generally nice guy that enjoyed all thing water and land that involved some challenge and adventure. My thoughts are with his family.
Tim Burke
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Always had a smile written by Dave Kissane,
October 16, 2008
I met Dave on the plane on the way over to Hawaii. From that first meeting, whenever I saw him, he always had a smile. Everyone was stressing out, as they always do, leading into the race, but he just seemed to cruise through the whole the thing with his own happy disposition. Very sad.
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Tribute written by Mark Nathan,
October 17, 2008
Early this week when Dave was reported missing, I thought "he'll be OK, he'll turn up on the coast somewhere". Because he was a a consummate waterman it seemed inconceivable he wouldn't. Dave spent countless hours surfing out in massive swell off the Victorian coast, often alone and for the pure love of the ocean- not to get his picture taken or to win praise or admiration. It looks like Dave has lost his life doing what he loved, in the environment he loved and was totally at home in. He'll always be in the thoughts of those who knew him. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
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Update written by Rob Mousley,
October 17, 2008
Latest update from the Warrnambool Standard online:
17/10/2008 1:00:00 AM THE search for a Peterborough man who has been missing at sea since Monday will continue through the weekend.
A scaled-down ground search today will concentrate on the rugged coast around Murnanes Bay where David Scheen, 39, was last seen.
He set out on a surf ski training session at 12.30 pm Monday intending to paddle 20 kilometres to Peterborough.
His craft, life vest, hat and mobile phone were found nearby. It is believed the experienced sportsman was thrown off his ski in rough waves.
An easterly current and treacherous seas have prevented searchers from launching boats close to the jagged coastline.
Search co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Paul Hargreaves yesterday said it was hoped waves would be calmer by the weekend.
He said the police water squad had returned to Melbourne yesterday afternoon after being unable to launch their craft.
Fisheries department craft are on standby for the weekend.
Helicopter sweeps were done yesterday along the coastline between Peterborough and Warrnambool as well as ground searches by SES members from Warrnambool, Portland and Cobden.
SES controller Gerry Billings said Port Campbell members would continue the search today and during the weekend.
Mr Billings and Senior Sergeant Hargreaves praised the generosity of the Peninsula helicopter service which offered its time and fuel to join the air search Wednesday and yesterday.
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Search resumes written by Rob Mousley,
October 20, 2008
From TheAge.com.au
Search resumes for missing surf skier
Gabrielle Costa October 20, 2008 - 12:14PM
The search has resumed for a surf skier who went missing a week ago off the rugged south-west coast of Victoria.
David Scheen, 39, of Peterborough, was last seen about 12.30pm on Monday October 13 when he paddled out from Childers Cove, near Warrnambool, bound for his hometown.
Sea conditions were rough at the time.
Extensive air, land and sea search efforts have so far failed to find the man, but clothing, a damaged surf ski and a life vest have been recovered in the area.
Mr Scheen was described as an experienced surf skier.
The search has been scaled down but would continue, police said.
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A Reflection written by Andrew Coutts,
October 28, 2008
This is part of an email I sent to Rob last week...on reflection its a message that needs wide circulation...read on.
G'day Rob, So...our mate - David - is gone. No body found - I hope for his family's sake it does turn up soon... I don't understand that they found the lifejacket...he always wore it. They haven't said that they found it done up or undone...if it was done up it would be a fair indication that it was on his body. David used to terrify me with stories (several of them) about his visits from the "man in the grey suit" - there are big sharks all along this coast and he saw them up close & personal. That could explain how the jacket turned up without a body...still, its all speculation. Rob, I don't want people to say he was irresponsible - he wasn't - he was a calculated risk taker. No-one with his experience takes the ocean for granted... Sometimes we need to be reminded...we have to take personal responsibility for our actions AND keep in mind the impact our actions have on our friends & family...basically, if you won't wear the lifejacket/take safety gear for yourself...take it for your family! This incident has made me reassess my own approach - I'll confess to never wearing a lifejacket - I even had a terrifying swim after I fell off my ski 5km offshore in bass straight training for this years Molokai(I had the leash, but forgot top put it on once I got thru the sizeable shore break - idiot!) I love the ocean - I've sailed most of them on all sorts of small yachts - I've surfed it, swum on or under it and now I'm getting off paddling it. But I know this - the ocean is not a romantic thing - it's indifferent to your circumstances and safety and it will punish any form of complacency. Please let something positive come from David's death. Rethink your plan next time you head out on the water we love. Cheers Couta.
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great post Couta. written by jackal,
October 28, 2008
From all of us who paddle, and also met David even briefly this is a tragedy and your comments are spot on. I run weekly off-shore down wind runs - generally without spotting the man in the grey suit. I am now insisting that all wear bright colours and wear a leash.
Rob, please post Couta's comments in a feature follow-up to your original story. We can all learn from this.
Cheers mate
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"May I offer my deepest regret and sorrow to David's family on hearing this news. I also offer thanks to the rescue teams and members of the public who have been helping in the search. I met David in Hawaii and he was an avid surfski paddler and a very good guy. Let's not give up hope.
Oscar Chalupsky, Epic Kayaks International"