Andrew Houston was bitten on the leg by a shark while diving off Elwood last October. Picture: David Caird Source: Herald Sun
AN experienced diver who is missing after scuba fishing in Port Phillip Bay yesterday afternoon once survived a shark attack in the same waters.
Police have launched a major search for 52-year-old Andrew Houston who was last seen scuba diving about 100m offshore from the Brighton Baths yesterday afternoon.
He left yesterday at 12pm and told family and friends that he would be home about 4pm.
They contacted police when he failed to return by 7pm.
Mr Houston's mother Caroline Wilson speaks to detectives this morning. Picture: Nicole Garmston
The diver, who was alone, was carrying full scuba equipment including a tank. The father-of-three regularly dived in the reef and relatives said he grew up in the water.
Mr Houston's mother, Caroline Wilson, arrived at the scene this morning after being alerted to the heartbreaking news after hearing it on a radio bulletin.
"I was lying in bed and I heard them say a diver in his 50s from Carnegie had gone missing off Brighton," Ms Wilson said.
Mr Houston's vehicle remains in the car park as the search continues.
"I put the pieces together and just thought, 'Oh my God, that's Andrew'.
"Then I saw a text message from Livinia (Andrew's partner) asking me to ring her...I didn't know what to say. That's how I got the news."
Ms Wilson said she now understood why her son had not contacted her to pass on his Mother's Day wishes yesterday.
Police divers search the area this morning. Picture: Nicole Garmston
"Ever since he was a boy he loved the water. He loved fishing," she said.
Police Sen-Sgt James Dalton said rescuers did not believe he had drifted out to sea.
“We know he came here quite often. But it is probably not the smartest thing to dive on your own,” Sen-Sgt Dalton said.
Mr Houston set off scuba fishing about midday yesterday.
"We think at this stage it is unlikely he has drifted out (to sea). We don't know how much weight he was carrying.
"We don't know what could have happened."
Water Police constructed a replica model of the scene and conditions, and had established that if the man had surfaced he would have been swept straight back to shore.
The man's silver Daewoo remains parked in the Brighton Baths car park, about 50m away from the pier.
The area has been cordoned off by police tape.
The search is being co-ordinated by search and rescue officers and involves the police air wing, water police, coast guard and Victoria Marine Rescue vessels.
Mr Houston has had problems in the water at Port Phillip before, in 2011 he used a spanner and piece of wood to dislodge a Port Jackson shark that latched onto his leg for 20 minutes.
"When it first bit me I freaked out," Mr Houston said.
"Someone got me a spanner because we just couldn't get it to let go."
The shark eventually gave in and Mr Houston threw it back in the water.
