Australian Fisherman & Dog Found Dead In Boat

A 48-YEAR-OLD fisherman and his cattle dog have been found dead in their stranded boat on the central Queensland coast. Police said a helicopter searching for the pair discovered the bodies of the man and dog on the Pioneer River in Mackay yesterday. The boat appeared to have run aground and paw prints around the man's body suggested he died before the dog. Police said there were no visible injuries to the bodies and the deaths were not being treated as suspicious. An initial veterinary examination revealed the dog had died from dehydration, although more tests were to be carried out. Police said a post-mortem examination of the man's body would be held on Monday. The man went fishing last Monday and had planned be out for two days. A search was called when the fisherman's car was still parked at the boat ramp on Thursday.