The search for a man feared drowned continued today, after a weekend family tragedy.

A speed boat had five people on board when it capsized on a sand bar south of Sydney.

Laura Evans reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Grave fears are held for a 47-year-old man who went missing when his catamaran overturned.

Poor weather and severe swells forced rescue crews to call off the search at Batemans Bay, which resumed today as conditions improved.

Three of his family members died.

An eleven year old girl found clinging to the upturned boat’s hull is the only survivor.

The family is believed to be on holiday from Victoria.

Trish Knight, Family Friends: “You really don’t believe it until it happens, you just think it is somebody else. But when it is someone close, that just makes it hard.”

All of the boat’s life jackets were found on board.

Questions are now being asked as to why no-one was wearing them.

Laura Evans, QUT News.