A man in his mid-twenties was rescued earlier in the morning and one man remains missing.
A group of friends, a Manly-based band called Eagle Eye Jones, happened to be near the cave when the dog was spotted by a surf life saver on a jet ski about 11am. He called for their help to access the scared animal.
Dylan Goodearl, 26, said the band were having a birthday celebration and making pancakes at the time near Wash Away beach just off the Manly to Spit bushwalking track. They managed to gain access to the cave and found the dog alive but very scared with its tail between his legs.
“We climbed down into the cave and saw him there. He was very scared. We gave him some pancakes and water. The cops and life guards came down and we helped hoist the dog up from the rocks using a towel. It was great to see the dog was wagging its tail and able to get itself up the rest of the way after that and go with police.”
Inspector Andrew Veale – duty officer for the Northern Beaches Area Police Command held a press conference outside Manly Police Station later that day to confirm the missing man is 49 and of no fixed abode, usually residing in a van on the North Shore.
The man was apparently planning to buy the boat of the younger man, whom he knew.
The boat flipped about 3am as it entered the more open waters near Dobroyd Head out from Middle Harbour.
Saturday, 22 January 2022 08:41:52 AMA search is underway for a man and a dog missing after a boat capsized off Sydney’s North Harbour near Dobroyd Head early this morning.Officers attached to Marine Area Command were alerted to reports a man was heard calling for help shortly before 4.50am (Saturday 22 January 2022).Local residents and a passing fisherman rescued a 25-year-old man from the sea and took him to Little Manly Beach.He has told police he and a friend launched their boat from the Tunks Park boat ramp about 9pm yesterday (Friday 21 January 2022), but the vessel capsized about 3am.
Police are now searching for the second man and his dog, described as being a large black and white Staffordshire-type dog.
Police have been told there were no life jackets, lights, or safety equipment on board.
An air, sea and land search is now underway, coordinated by Marine Area Command and assisted by local police, Surf Life Saving NSW and the Westpac helicopter. PolAir will also be assisting.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Manly Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages
