Kerry FRANKCOMBE

 

Empty boat found during search for Deloraine man missing on fishing trip

ABC

Police searching for a Tasmanian man missing after a fishing trip on Sunday say he was experienced and conditions were good when he set off.

Kerry Frankcombe's boat was found empty at sea about 1:30am, 12km off the state's north coast.

A search has been underway since late on Sunday after the 75-year-old Deloraine man launched his six-metre half-cab from the Port Sorell boat ramp about midday on Sunday but failed to return. 

His green and white boat was found about 12km off the coast of Beechford, about 40 kilometres from Port Sorell, about 1:30am.

Tasmania Police Inspector Shane LeFevre said Mr Frankcombe had not fished in the area before but his boat appeared to be seaworthy and nothing untoward seems to have occurred.

"It's a six-metre vessel, so can withstand the conditions offshore here and towards George Town and the Tamar River, so we have no concerns about the vessel itself.

"We will of course get that checked," Inspector LeFevre said. 

He said police were puzzled about what might have happened.

"Going solo is quite dangerous in that environment but if you're prepared, as it appears this gentleman was, then everything should be okay so we are really intrigued about what's happened.

"We are unsure at this stage, that is the reason why we have so many resources here looking for him.

"We know there was an EPIRB [emergency position-indicating radio beacon] onboard which wasn't activated, so once again another avenue for our investigations to why.

"It lends to the theory that nothing untoward had happened at that stage to allow him to do that. 

"Certainly with his experience, he would know that he was in trouble, he would have activated that EPIRB."

Family 'devastated' but hopeful

Inspector LeFevre said Mr Frankcombe's family had visited the search area and were being kept informed.

"They are devastated but they certainly are hopeful as we are that we will find this gentleman in the next little while," he said.

Multiple police vessels, the rescue helicopter, drones, Tamar Sea Rescue and a Challenger Jet from Victoria began searching the area just before 8pm on Sunday.

"We have a number of assets both in the air on the water and we also have two dive squads so they'll continue searching over the next couple of days and then we'll reassess things as we go towards the end of the week," Inspector LeFevre said.

The search area, between Port Sorell and where the boat was found off Beechford, is expanding, police said.

"It's a significant search area and as you can imagine every hour that passes that search area increases dramatically so that's why we are throwing as many resources that we can at this search right now."

"We are surprised that the vessel has travelled that far but taking into account the data from the current analysis … we're surprised, but it does match with what you would expect."

Anyone who may have information is asked to contact police on 131 444.

 

 

Search formally suspended for missing fisherman, Kerry Frankcombe

Tuesday, 10 October 2023 - 4:02 pm.

Following a comprehensive review, police have formally suspended the significant search for missing fisherman, Kerry Frankcombe. 

“Following an independent review, police are today formally suspending the search for missing Deloraine, Tasmania man, Kerry Frankcombe,” said Inspector Shane LeFevre. 

75-year-old Kerry Frankcombe was reported missing after he failed to return from a fishing trip in the Port Sorrell River area on 10 September. His 6-metre half cab vessel was located unmanned and adrift approximately 12km off the coast of Beechford early on 11 September. 

“Considerable search efforts have been undertaken between Port Sorell and Beechford, utilising significant resources, but unfortunately Mr Frankcombe has not been located.” 

“We believe Mr Frankcombe ended up in the water without a life jacket, and we’ve received expert medical advice that sadly he could not have survived the conditions for this length of time.”

“As with any missing persons case, police will continue to investigate any new information received in relation to Mr Francombe’s disappearance, in the hope of providing closure for his family and loved ones.” 

“I extend our deepest thoughts to Mr Frankcombe’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.” 

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

 
Painful wait: widow in limbo two years after husband's disappearance

16 January 2026 The Advocate

Delays by police and the coroner's office have left a woman in legal limbo two years after her husband of 53 years went missing off the state's northern coast.
Kerry Frankcombe was last seen launching his vessel from the Port Sorell boat ramp about midday on September 10, 2023.
Despite an extensive search that located the empty boat floating off Beechford - 40 kilometres from where he had launched - Mr Frankcombe was never recovered.
Police called off the search a month later.
Lyons MHA Jen Butler said last year that the coroner's more than two year delay in finalising the case has left Mr Frankcombe's widow, Susan Frankcombe, in "limbo, unable to move on legally, emotionally and practically."
"The Coroner's Court response acknowledges the delay is due to the time taken for relevant reports from the investigating officers of Tasmania Police to be received," Ms Butler said.
"Specifically, the Missing Persons Unit only recently provided a copy of the investigation file to the Coroners Division after it had been with the investigating officer since July 2025."
A police spokesperson confirmed the report was sent to the Coronial Division in October last year.
"Our thoughts continue to be with Mr Frankcombe's family and loved ones at this difficult time," the spokesperson said.
"The coroners file was submitted in early 2025, with additional paperwork being provided in October 2025. The matter is awaiting the coroner's findings."
The spokesperson said the police delayed their reports to the coroner because further information needed to be sourced prior to finalising the investigation.
However, the coroner has yet to issue a ruling on Mr Frankcombe's status three months after receiving the final police report.
A spokesperson for the Coroners Court confirmed on January 9 that the Frankcombe case had not yet been finalised, but declined to comment further.
Ms Frankcombe said she could not understand the year-long delay in the police investigation and why the coroner had not finalised her husband's case.
"The waiting is atrocious, it feels like you're being slapped in the face all the time ... it's almost like an abuse," she said.
The poor condition in which police returned her husband's boat became a secondary trauma that put her "back in a deep hole", she said.
A spokesperson said the government was working hard to "streamline processes and reduce caseloads" across the magistrates court and the coronial and civil division.
"Over the last decade there has been a significant increase in reportable deaths," he said.
The 2025-26 interim budget delivered additional investment to ensure the court was equipped to respond to this increase, he said.
"Additionally, the government has commissioned the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute to conduct a comprehensive review of the Coroner's Act 1995, with a specific focus on considering reforms which could improve the operation of coronial functions."
The Coronial Division of the Magistrates Court has three full-time coroners, and more than 1000 cases pending as of June 30 last year, according to the Magistrates Court's 2024-2025 Annual Report.
In a message published in that report, chief coroner Olivia McTaggart drew attention to the lack of resourcing in her office.
"In particular, a fourth coroner is required to assist in [and] manage the existing workload as well as the increased number of mandatory public inquests," she wrote.
"A separate premises for the Coronial Division is also needed for the staff and bereaved families.
"The existing space is at full capacity and does not represent a supportive or trauma informed environment for staff or bereaved families."