An Aussie among those who vanished when a live export ship capsized in Japanese waters last Wednesday must be found, his friends say.
Will Mainprize and Tom Suttor’s first sea journey together - travelling from New Zealand to China - was the same route Will was on when he vanished on September 2. Tom, who got Will into working on ships, says his friend texted him that night before a typhoon hit the vessel.
“He sent me a message at 9pm, telling me the engine’s full of water and the ship’s gone sideways,” Tom told NCA Newswire.But he said hair-raising weather at sea wasn’t anything unusual. Tom Suttor took this photo of his mate Will Mainprize on their first sea voyage together in 2016 from New Zealand to China – the same route Will was travelling when he disappeared. Picture: NCA NewsWireThe 27-year-old signed up to work as a stockman transporting live cattle on the voyage, and a week after he was last seen, Will’s friends and family are still praying for him.“It’s not the 18th century - ships don’t go missing in storms. “It’s an absurd thing to try and comprehend, in an age with all the technology we have, that we can’t find this ship.Tom Suttor is begging the Australian government to search for his best mate Will Mainprize, who was on board Gulf Livestock 1 when it capsized off the coast of Japan on September 2. Picture: NCA NewsWireTom and a group of Will’s friends have started an online campaign to pressure the government into searching for Will, using the hashtag #findmymate and aThe Japanese Coast Guard announced they were giving up the search outside of regular patrols on Wednesday, and Tom and the rest of Will’s friends and family believe the Australian government should step up.“There’s no evidence they aren’t on those vessels. “Will is literally a trained survivalist. He’s a wilderness guide in Tasmania, and the only reason he went back to work at sea because there’s no work at the moment because of COVID-19. Will Mainprize guiding a wilderness tour in Tasmania. His friends say if anyone could survive more than a week at sea, it would be Will.“I totally commend the Japanese Coast Guard on the efforts that they’ve made already. “If the Australian government can allocate any sort of resources to them, whether it’s financial or a ship or a plane, that would be much appreciated by everybody.” Will is one of 40 missing crew members from the ship, along with Australian vet Lukas Orda, two New Zealanders, and 36 Filipinos. In a joint statement, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said the Australian government thanked Japan for its search and rescue effort, urged it to keep going and offered support. “Australia is engaging Japanese authorities closely on Japan’s search and rescue effort, acknowledging Japan’s responsibilities in this instance under the International Search and Rescue Convention,” they said. “Australia is encouraging Japan’s ongoing air and sea efforts, and continues to offer the Japanese authorities any supporting capability needed.Mr McCormack and Ms Payne said the Australian government acknowledged the distress of the family and friends of those missing.“Our thoughts are with their loved ones at this very difficult time. “We are also thinking of the families and friends of the remaining crew members from New Zealand and the Philippines who are also missing.” Aussie vet Lukas Orda is also among the 40 missing crew members, along with two New Zealanders and 36 Filipinos. Picture: NCA NewsWire
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