The ring was taken from the gantry some time between Sunday afternoon, August 20, and Tuesday evening. 

Angel Rings South Coast overseer Adam Martin urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of the ring to come forward.

He said the rings had so far saved 87 lives on the NSW coast. 

“There are over 130 installed along the NSW coastline. So far they have saved 87 lives; that is confirmed saves by authorities,” Mr Martin said. 

“We know there is easily double the amount of unconfirmed saves by the public. 

“It is illegal to remove safety equipment of that kind.

“A lot of the people in the angel rings program are of the opinion that stealing a ring is no different to manslaughter.

“If there is a ring that should be there, and it is not because it is stolen, [the thief] could be liable for a life.”

It was not possible for the ring to have been blown off its mount in recent wind, Mr Martin said. 

“There is no way they can come off with the way they sit on their mounts with a lanyard,” he said.

“They are designed to withstand really bad weather. It would have to be physically removed.”

The rings are put in key recreational fishing areas along the NSW coastline.

“When people, especially tourists, see an angel ring, they automatically think it is a safe place to go fishing,” Mr Martin said.  

“That is what they are known for. When you see a ring, you know it is a popular fishing spot and you have security there.”

Mr Martin said the rings were paid for from the Recreational Fishing Trust Fund, which is taken from fishing licence fees. 

“Over the next couple of years, we will see another three-dozen rings installed in key areas on the South Coast,” he said. 

If anyone knows where the Bawley Point angel ring is, phone Adam on 0418 570 131.