Thursday October 16 - 2:30pm: THE body of Sydney man William Lam has been recovered in Wallis Lake.
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The search resumed this morning and Mr Lam's body was located near Regatta Island about 2kms from where he was last seen just after midday (Thursday 16 October 2014).
The 32-year-old from Berala got into difficulty when he entered the water at Wallis Lakes to retrieve his child’s shoe just before 2pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 October 2014).
Emergency services were alerted when he failed to surface.
Officers from Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command launched an extensive search with assistance from the Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue NSW, Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Forster Surf Life Savers.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Thursday 11:30am: POLICE divers have been called in to search for a 32-year-old fisherman feared drowned in Wallis Lake on Wednesday afternoon.
William Lam, who is from Berala in western Sydney, was visiting the area with his wife and two children.
"Police have serious concerns. Mr Lam isn't a great swimmer. We can't sugar coat this, the conditions were bad yesterday. We believe he has most likely drowned," Great Lakes Local Area Command Inspector Charne Musgrove said.
Police divers were called into the area shortly before 10am today (Thursday) to scour the lake.
'Mr Lam isn't a great swimmer. We can't sugar coat this, the conditions were bad yesterday. We believe he has most likely drowned.'
- Great Lakes Local Area Command Inspector Charne Musgrove
Divers are searching from the Tuncurry boat ramp, up through the channel and under the traffic bridge.
"There were a few witnesses who saw Mr Lam in the water but the weather yesterday (Wednesday) was too atrocious to get a boat in," she said.
"The witnesses grabbed the son once they saw the father in the water and called police. The little boy was then taken back to Forster Police Station and is ok."
Mr Lam was fishing with his three-year-old son near the Forster Tuncurry Traffic Bridge along Point Road when he went in the water to retrieve his son's shoes.
Mr Lam, who was here with his wife and two children, was last seen by witnesses near a yellow buoy just out from the Tuncurry boat ramp before a strong current pulled him under the water.
Mr Lam was last seen wearing a long-sleeve pale blue shirt, a black baseball cap, jeans and joggers.
Thursday 9am: A search will resume this morning for a fisherman who disappeared in water at Wallis Lake on Wednesday.
Police believe the 32-year-old Berala man was fishing near the bridge when he entered the water to retrieve an object.
An extensive search was undertaken throughout the afternoon by police from Manning/Great Lakes Local Area Command with the assistance of officers from the Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue NSW, Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Forster Surf Life Savers, however the man could not be found.
The search was called off about 6pm and will resume in the early hours of the morning.
Wednesday October 15: IT is believed a man who was trying to retrieve his child's shoes has slipped into Wallis Lake and disappeared this afternoon (October 15).
Police have confirmed the man was fishing in Tuncurry before he disappeared into the water at Wallis Lake near the Forster Tuncurry bridge (Head street Bridge).
At about 1.55pm police were called to the scene after reports the fisherman, who is described as being of Asian appearance, had disappeared.
It is believed the 32-year-old man was fishing near the bridge when he entered the water to retrieve an object.
Some reports have suggested the man was trying to retrieve his three-year-old child's shoes. With choppy conditions this afternoon there are grave concerns for his safety.
A search is being conducted to locate the man and involves local police as well as Marine Rescue NSW, Forster Surf Life Savers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
The man was last seen wearing a long-sleeve pale blue shirt, a black baseball cap, jeans and joggers.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact police immediately via Triple Zero (000).
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. They should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Earlier - Wednesday - EMERGENCY crews have been called to the Forster Tuncurry breakwall after a person got into difficulty.
There are reports the person was swimming in Wallis Lake.
Surf Life Saving NSW spokesperson Donna Wishart said a Surf Life Saving duty officer, police and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter were called to the area this afternoon after reports of a person caught in a rip near the Forster Tuncurry breakwall.