Man, 61, rescued off Geraldton coast after his empty boat was found hours earlier

A 61-year-old man has been rescued after emergency services were alerted to an empty boat adrift off Geraldton.

Police made an appeal on Thursday afternoon after the man had not been seen since Thursday morning.

It is believed he arrived at the Francis Street boat ramp and launched his vessel about 7.30am as the sole occupant on board.

About 11.15am, reports were made to police about an unoccupied boat off the coast of Geraldton.

This triggered a search and rescue operation, involving marine, land and air resources, including the police airwing, water police, Volunteer Marine Rescue, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre and local police.

A few hours later, police issued an update with good news.

The missing boatie had been located alive by Marine Rescue Geraldton about 2.25pm near Chapman Bay.

“The man was located wearing a life jacket, which contributed towards his survival,” a police spokesperson said.

The man was taken by ambulance to Geraldton Health Campus for a medical assessment.

DFES marine district officer for the Mid West and Gascoyne Simon Miller said another boatie raised the alarm.

“The vessel that was drifting didn’t have anyone on board, but it had some personal belongings on board that indicated that there might have been someone on board that vessel,” he said.

Mr Miller said he was unsure what led to the man going overboard or how long he was in the water.

But he said the boatie did have “some hypothermia type conditions.”

“The fact that he had a life jacket on... definitely aided in him being found alive,” Mr Miller said.

“Your chances of survival significantly decrease if you do not have a personal flotation device on when you enter the water.”

Police have reminded all boat owners this summer season to check their equipment, ensure they carry the right safety gear including life jackets, a registered EPIRB and flares and to log on and off with the local sea rescue group — either by radio or by using the Deckee app.