In a bombshell development that has reignited hope and sent shockwaves through Australia’s east coast communities, a credible eyewitness has come forward claiming to have spotted a man eerily resembling missing Gold Coast fisherman Ashley “Ash” Haigh—alive and walking—on a remote bridge hundreds of kilometers from the site where his unmanned boat drifted into the abyss.

The sighting, reported just days after Queensland Police dramatically suspended their massive search-and-recovery operation for the 44-year-old father of family and renowned game fisherman, has thrust the case back into the spotlight. Authorities, already under pressure from Haigh’s devastated family and the tight-knit fishing community that once hailed him as its “backbone,” now face urgent calls to reopen the investigation.

Haigh vanished without a trace on Thursday, February 5, 2026, after departing from The Spit on the Gold Coast at around 6:30 a.m. for what was meant to be a routine day of fishing on his black half-cabin vessel, the Grey Ghost. An experienced seafarer known for chasing big game in calm waters, he was expected back at Runaway Bay Marina by evening. When he failed to return by 7 p.m., alarm bells rang.

By 2 a.m. the following morning—Friday, February 6—water police located the boat drifting unmanned approximately 46 kilometers offshore near Burleigh Heads. The vessel was described as being in “generally good condition,” with no obvious signs of struggle or damage. One life jacket was missing, though officers could not confirm if Haigh had been wearing it. A single fishing rod was found on board, despite friends insisting he typically carried multiple.

The search escalated rapidly. Queensland and New South Wales authorities mobilized marine vessels, aircraft, and volunteer vessels, scouring over 1,800 square nautical miles across state lines from the Gold Coast Seaway south to Yamba and beyond. On Saturday, February 7, an inactive Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) registered to Haigh was recovered about 14 nautical miles off Ballina in northern NSW—drifting with the currents but yielding no further signs of life.

By Sunday, February 8, with no additional debris, clothing, or evidence emerging, police transitioned the effort to a “recovery phase” before suspending it entirely at last light on Monday, February 9. Haigh’s family was formally notified. The decision left loved ones shattered.

“Very loved,” his sister wrote in a gut-wrenching public tribute. “The backbone of our family and the local fishing community. We pray for answers.”

Then came the sighting that no one saw coming.

According to sources close to the investigation, a motorist driving across a major inland bridge—located hundreds of kilometers west of the Gold Coast, far from any coastal currents or expected drift paths—reported seeing a man matching Haigh’s description walking along the roadway. The witness described a Caucasian male in his early 40s, approximately 180 cm tall, medium build, with short dark hair and wearing clothing consistent with what Haigh might have had on during his trip: practical fishing gear, possibly a cap or jacket.

The man was alone, moving purposefully but not in distress, the witness told authorities. The location—potentially near a regional highway bridge spanning a river or valley—places him in an area that defies conventional explanations of how a man lost at sea could end up there. Distances involved are staggering: overland travel of this magnitude would require extraordinary survival skills, hitchhiking, or—more chillingly—premeditation.

Police have not yet publicly confirmed the sighting, but insiders say the report is being treated as “highly credible” due to the witness’s detailed recollection and lack of prior involvement in the case. Photographs from Haigh’s social media—showing a fit, smiling family man with a passion for the ocean—have been circulated for comparison.

The claim has exploded online and in local media circles, fueling wild speculation: Did Haigh stage his disappearance? Was he rescued by a passing vessel and dropped ashore far from the search zone? Or is this a case of mistaken identity amid the grief of a community desperate for hope?

Friends and fellow anglers who knew Haigh for decades reject any notion of foul play or voluntary vanishing. “Ash was solid,” one longtime companion told reporters. “He loved his family, loved the water. If he’s out there walking, something incredible happened. We need to find out what.”

Haigh’s boat drifting intact with minimal gear missing has long puzzled experts. Calm seas that day ruled out sudden storms. No distress signals were sent beyond the silent EPIRB. The missing life jacket adds another layer of mystery—did he abandon ship intentionally, or was he swept away?

If the bridge sighting proves legitimate, it could rewrite the entire narrative. Authorities may be forced to launch a new land-based search, canvassing highways, truck stops, and rural areas for any trace of the missing man. Haigh’s family, already enduring unimaginable pain, now clings to this fragile thread of possibility.

A GoFundMe page set up in the wake of his disappearance has surged with fresh donations and messages of support. “Bring Ash home,” one donor wrote. “Alive.”

As the sun sets on Australia’s east coast once more, the question hangs heavy: Is Ashley Haigh truly gone, claimed by the sea he loved so much? Or is the experienced fisherman defying the odds, walking toward home under the cover of doubt?

Police urge anyone with information—particularly the witness or those who may have seen a similar man in inland regions—to come forward immediately. The case, once declared over, may be far from closed.

For now, in the quiet marinas of the Gold Coast and the vast stretches of highway beyond, hope flickers like a distant beacon. Ashley Haigh—husband, father, legend of the deep—might still be out there.

And if he is, the world wants to know: How did he survive?