🚨 THIS JUST IN: CHILLING NEW CLUE IN ASH HAIGH DISAPPEARANCE — Investigators Racing to Recover Data from His Cell Phone… Last Signal in a Narrow 3KM Offshore Corridor! 😱🌊

The phone that was ALWAYS by his side at sea… now silent forever? Ash Haigh’s family is devastated, insisting it NEVER left him during that fateful solo fishing trip off the Gold Coast. But that final ping — locked in a tight 3km zone far from shore — has become the heartbreaking new epicenter of the search 👇

Queensland Police have suspended an intensive cross-border search for 44-year-old Ashley “Ash” Haigh, a well-known game fisherman and family man who vanished during a solo fishing trip off the Gold Coast on February 5, 2026. The effort, which covered more than 1,800 square nautical miles by air and sea, ended without locating Haigh or additional signs of life, prompting authorities to transition operations into a recovery phase amid growing fears for his safety.

Haigh, described by loved ones as an experienced marlin fisherman who frequently ventured offshore with friends, left Runaway Bay Marina alone on the morning of Thursday, February 5, aboard his black half-cabin pleasure craft, the Grey Ghost. He was expected to return by around 5 p.m. local time. When the vessel failed to appear by 7 p.m., family members reported him missing.

Water police located the unoccupied boat drifting approximately 25 nautical miles (about 46 km) southeast of the Gold Coast seaway, near Burleigh Heads, at around 2 a.m. on Friday, February 6. The vessel was found intact and adrift, with the engine keys removed from the ignition and placed on a seat. Haigh’s wallet was discovered in his vehicle at the marina, and four life jackets were aboard—though one was unaccounted for. No immediate signs of struggle or foul play were reported, and conditions at sea that day were described as calm.

The discovery intensified the search, which expanded south into New South Wales waters. On Saturday, February 7, rescuers located Haigh’s inactive Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) about 14 nautical miles (25 km) off Ballina in northern NSW. The device, registered to Haigh, had not transmitted an active distress signal, raising questions about how and when it became separated from the boat or its owner. Police noted no further items or evidence of survival were found despite extensive efforts involving helicopters, vessels, and coordinated teams.

Queensland Police announced the suspension on Sunday, February 8, with some outlets reporting the decision formalized Monday, February 9. “Sadly, through events that we are yet to establish—and perhaps we may not even be able to establish—that person is no longer on board that boat,” one official stated. The shift to recovery mode reflects standard protocol in prolonged missing-at-sea cases where hope diminishes without positive developments.

Haigh’s family has been left in profound grief. His sister issued a public tribute calling him “very loved” and emphasizing his role as a devoted husband and father. Friends and the local fishing community described him as a respected figure who often shared his passion for offshore game fishing. A GoFundMe campaign was quickly established to support his wife and children amid the financial and emotional toll.

Viral social media posts have circulated claims of investigators attempting to recover data from Haigh’s cell phone, citing a last signal in a narrow 3km offshore corridor and family assertions that the device “never left his side at sea.” However, official reports from Queensland Police, ABC News, 9News, 7News, and other sources do not confirm any active cell phone data recovery efforts or a specific recent ping in such a zone. Authorities have stated the phone has not been located, with speculation it may have remained on the boat or with Haigh. No mainstream coverage mentions forensic analysis of mobile signals as a current focus, suggesting such details may stem from unverified online speculation.

The case has drawn parallels to other maritime disappearances where experienced individuals vanish under seemingly routine conditions. Experts note possibilities including an accidental fall overboard—perhaps while handling gear or during a medical event—given the calm weather and intact boat. The missing life jacket and detached EPIRB add to the mystery, though without activation, it limits conclusions. Foul play has not been ruled out but lacks supporting evidence at this stage.

Haigh’s disappearance has highlighted safety concerns in recreational offshore fishing. Authorities routinely urge carrying activated EPIRBs, personal locator beacons (PLBs), life jackets, and reliable communication devices. In Haigh’s case, the inactive EPIRB’s recovery far from the boat’s position underscores how currents and drift can complicate searches.

As the active phase concludes, police continue liaising with Haigh’s family and remain open to new information. The community has rallied with tributes on social media and support initiatives, reflecting the impact of his loss on the tight-knit Gold Coast fishing scene.

For now, the unanswered questions linger: What sequence of events led to Haigh’s absence from his vessel? Could overlooked details—like potential phone data if recoverable—provide closure? Without new leads, the search for Ash Haigh transitions from rescue to remembrance, leaving loved ones to grapple with an unimaginable void.