UPDATE, Monday 12 noon: The fisherman who died off the Warrnambool breakwater after his boat overturned on Sunday night was Brian Gorman, 69.
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Mr Gorman was a senior health worker at Warrnambool Base Hospital and Lyndoch before retiring.
Ten years ago he was diagnosed with the blood cancers, leukaemia and lymphoma.
Mr Gorman retired from his work and underwent chemotherapy and photodynamic treatment over three years to combat the skin rashes, lumps and bumps, fatigue and night sweats that were symptoms of the diseases.
He publicly spoke about his experiences battling leukaemia and lymphoma.
EARLIER: A 69-year-old Warrnambool man died after his boat capsized off the end of the breakwater on Sunday night.
Sergeant Callum McKinnon, of Warrnambool police, said the man was fishing in his boat when it capsized about 9pm.
A number of people who were fishing off the end of the Warrnambool breakwater witnessed the boat go over and were able to maintain voice contact with the man for a while.
“He was hanging onto the boat and was wearing a life jacket,” Sergeant McKinnon said.
The fishermen then lost sight of him in the low light.
“For whatever reason, he’s lost contact with the boat,” Sergeant McKinnon said.
The surf lifesavers were alerted and were on scene within 10 minutes, he said.
The man was found near his boat and brought back to shore where ambulance officers worked on him.
Two ambulances and a MICA paramedic attended.
Sergeant McKinnon said the man had been fishing for a couple of hours and was the only person in the boat.
The police airwing was initially called and was on its way to Warrnambool to help with the search, but was turned back when it was confirmed he was the only person in the boat.
The Coast Guard was also called and was able to tow the man’s boat back to the boat ramp about 10.20pm.
