A teenager has been found alive on an island after he failed to come home from a Wednesday afternoon surf session.
Darcy Deefholts, 19, was last seen fishing with his surfboard beside him about 2.30pm at a breakwall on Wooli Beach in New South Wales‘ northern rivers region.
His bike, clothes, and shoes were then found about 5km north at a local surf spot.
Rescue volunteers and emergency services immediately launched a search effort, calling on beach walkers and drone operators from the public to assist.
On Thursday morning, Darcy was found about 13km out at sea on North Solitary Island.
He is now receiving medical attention.
Marine rescue searched a 15km stretch of coastline from Bare Point to Pebbly beach on Wednesday night.
His father, Terry Deefholts, pleaded for locals to help him find his son.
Missing surfer Darcy Deefholts, 19, (pictured) has been found after an overnight search in NSW
Rescuers located Darcy at a small island off the coast of northern NSW about 13km from where he went surfing
‘I need boats, beach walkers, drones and 4WDs and planes at first light,’ Mr Deefholts called out on social media.
‘I’m asking anyone with a seaworthy vessel to please meet me at the main Wooli boat ramp and take me to sea to help with the search.
‘Of course we are fearing the worst… We are overwhelmed by the community efforts in the search so far. There is only one thing we want now – our beloved boy to be found safe.’
Darcy had taken a longboard to a surf spot known as One Tree at Wooli to surf in ‘small’ swell about 4pm on Wednesday.
He was located on North Solitary, to The Spot’s southeast, on Thursday morning, after north northwesterly winds prevailed through the night.
Mr Deefholts said his son’s survival was a ‘one in a million miracle’.
‘I haven’t had the chance to talk to him yet, I’m just so over the moon,’ he said, per the Daily Telegraph.
‘I’m still just processing everything. We’ve had no sleep and it has been a lot to deal with.’
Marine rescue crews (above) worked into the night looking for Darcy on Wednesday
Police and marine rescue crews conducted searches as members of the public offered their assistance
New South Wales Police said they assisted with the search utilising their assets in the Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue, and PolAir.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector John Murray said vessel Wooli 30 was tasked by the NSW Police Marine Area Command just before 10pm on Wednesday.
‘A volunteer crew was rapidly assembled and Wooli 30 deployed,’ he said
‘The crew searched waters from Bare Point in the north to Freshwater Beach in the south.
‘Conditions were favourable offshore. Wooli 30 returned to base at 1am after being stood down for the night.’
Wooli 30 and Coffs Harbour 30 hit the water again at 8am to continue the search.
‘The volunteer crews will conduct search patterns under the direction of Marine Area Command,’ Inspector Murray said on Thursday.
‘Conditions offshore are again favourable this morning.’
Locals were overjoyed to hear Darcy had been found.
‘We are so overwhelmed here with tears of joy,’ one family friend wrote online.
‘Thank God he made it to Solitary Island. Darcy, you’re well loved and we are all so glad you were located safe and well,’ another said.
‘So relieved for everyone,’ a third added.
More to come.
