Family and friends are praying for a miracle as the search continues for an experienced outrigger canoeist in Far North Queensland after the Thursday Island local disappeared two days ago.
Denne Bourke, who once made coffee for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, was last seen about 3:45pm on Wednesday when he was paddling his canoe in the Torres Strait.
At the time, he was paddling alone on the return leg of his afternoon route between Thursday and Horn islands.
Mr Bourke's hat was located on Channel Rock between the two islands, and his canoe was found 100 metres off Thursday Island later that day.
The 38-year-old father of a three-month-old baby is a popular local identity in the Torres Strait.
Extensive air and sea searches have been underway since Wednesday night.
He bought The Coffee Department van in early 2020 and is also known as the friendly face of the island for visiting celebrities and dignitaries, including Mr Albanese and the Member for Kennedy Bob Katter.
Horn Island man Farhad Kamal spoke with Mr Bourke at the check-out of the Thursday Island grocery store just hours before the new dad set off in the canoe.
"I said, 'Hi proud father. So is your new baby keeping you awake all night?' He was laughing," Mr Kamal said.
Mr Kamal said Mr Bourke's disappearance was "really, really shocking, heartbreaking, and painful".
"It's hard to hold back the tears when you're thinking about him.
"He's in everyone's thoughts and still we are hoping that a miracle will happen."
Mr Kamal said everyone in the Torres Strait rallied behind Mr Bourke when he took over The Coffee Department.
"He was making everyone's day in the morning," he said.
"That was really appreciated within this beautiful community.
"And our honourable Prime Minister also loved to have coffee from his coffee van."
Mr Farad said Mr Bourke habitually paddled to Horn Island and surfed the ferry wake back most afternoons.
The ferry staff may have been among the last to see him on Wednesday afternoon — about two hours before low tide.
Suzannah Salam of the family-owned Rebel Tours, which operates the ferry service, said staff saw him about 3:45pm on Wednesday afternoon catching the wave behind the boat.
"I think that some of the other boats that were anchored at the time were watching him have a good time as well.
"I've never seen him have anything other than love for the sea, love for paddling and love for his family."
Ms Salam recalled his "big smile" and love for his job.
"He kept the island running."
