John Laverack: Police cling to hope of finding body of missing Kalbarri windsurfer

The windsurfer who was swept away by “treacherous” waters in Kalbarri last week has been remembered fondly by neighbours and the community, after human remains recovered by emergency services were confirmed to belong to the 72-year-old.

John Laverack was a well-known windsurfer, dog owner and handyman around the small town, which he had called home for more than two decades.

John Laverack remembered as a “friendly” and “unique” Kalbarri character after windsurfing tragedy

WA Police Mid West-Gascoyne District Supt Roger Beer indicated while the search for the “missing person” had been scaled back, police had not entirely lost hope of recovering his body.

“It has been scaled back, we’ll continue to search shorelines and beaches over the coming days,” he said.

“The material we found has been confirmed as belonging to the missing person, which is obviously very sad.

As time goes on, it becomes less likely we will be able to recover him.

“There’s issues with the swell and the weather, and we’re doing our best to do what we can, but as time goes on, it becomes less likely we will be able to recover him.”

Supt Beer said it had been a difficult time for all people in Kalbarri, including his officers.

“Unfortunately, marine searches are something we encounter pretty regularly along the Mid West-Gascoyne Coast regularly,” he said.