Latest news with #MarineRescue
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Search area expanded after fisher goes missing from Batemans Bay
A multi-agency search for a missing fisherman has been expanded to include about half of the New South Wales coastline. Marine Rescue vessels have been deployed between Port Stephens and the Victorian border to search for the man, who departed from Batemans Bay Marina at about 6am on Saturday. It is believed the 56-year-old was heading towards the continental shelf to catch tuna. In a statement NSW Police said the search was expanded on Monday afternoon "following unconfirmed sightings of the vessel by members of the public". Authorities have not verified any sightings of the man and his eight-metre-long Arvor cruiser vessel since the search commenced on Saturday evening. Marine Rescue Inspector Stuart Massey said up to 30 volunteers had been on the water during some days of the search. "When they were first out there they were out there till after midnight, then a lot of those crews backed up again the next morning," he said. "They are determined to get back out there and do their bit, but they've been working incredibly long hours out there." Inspector Massey said conditions on Monday morning were favourable for crews searching near Narooma and Bermagui. "There's not a great deal of swell or wind out there … that's making it a little bit more comfortable for the crews," he said. The search has been led by the NSW Police Marine Area Command alongside Marine Rescue and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Multiple interstate aircraft are also involved, according to AMSA. Police have not confirmed the identity of the fisherman.
West Australian
4 days ago
- General
- West Australian
Pilbara's emergency volunteers recognised in prestigious WAFES Awards
The Pilbara's tireless volunteer emergency responders are being celebrated on the state stage, with several local heroes and teams named as finalists in this year's WA Fire and Emergency Services Awards. In Port Hedland, two rising stars from Marine Rescue have earned spots as finalists in the Marine Rescue Young Person of the Year Award category — maintenance officer and senior skipper Lachlan Field and rescue crew member Owen Wells. Mr Field said it was rewarding enough just to be able to assist in Hedland's boating community. 'To be recognised at a state level alongside people who have been volunteering for decades is truly humbling,' he said. 'If you have a trade or a skill, it would be awesome to see more young people giving back to their communities.' Mr Wells said it has been great to give back to Hedland using the skills he has gained through Marine Rescue and his career on the water. 'Being nominated alongside my peers has been a real surprise, and I encourage other young people to just get in and have a crack.' Also flying the flag for Hedland is Natalie Marley from the local Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, nominated for the Individual Achievement Award. Meanwhile, Connie Reed from Newman State Emergency Service is in the running for the Peter Keillor Award. Over in the West Pilbara, the Karratha Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS) has been nominated the Firefighting Team Achievement Award, while lieutenant Riley Mole has been shortlisted for the Firefighting Young Person of the Year Award. Across to Exmouth, David Skene from Marine Rescue Exmouth has been nominated for the Marine Rescue Individual Achievement Award, joined by fellow nominee Scott Williams from Marine Rescue Dampier. Inland, the Tom Price State Emergency Service has also earned well-deserved recognition as a finalist in the State Emergency Service Team Achievement Award.
New York Post
11-07-2025
- New York Post
Missing Australian teen found alive on remote island after vanishing while surfing
A teenager who seemingly vanished after going for a surf off a northern NSW beach has been found alive on a remote island miles offshore. Darcy Deefholts, 19, did not return after going surfing at One Tree, Wooli, on the state's North Coast on Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement His father, Terry Deefholts, a real estate agent from Grafton, raised the alarm with a frantic call on social media, saying he was 'fearing the worst.' Deefholts issued an emotional plea to the community on Wednesday night following his son's disappearance. 4 Darcy Deefholt has been found alive on a remote island miles offshore. Terry Deefholt / Facebook 'HELP – I NEED BOATS, BEACH WALKERS, DRONES AND 4WDs and PLANES AT FIRST LIGHT,' his post read. Advertisement 'My boy Darcy is still missing. Marine Rescue searched tonight from Bare Point to Pebbly Beach at sea. They have been stood down for the night but expect they will be back early to resume the search. 'I am 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.' Deefholts said at the time the family were 'fearing the worst' but urged readers of the post to 'please save comments for those wishing to help with the search'. Advertisement In an incredible development, the teen was found on Thursday morning, almost 13km out to sea on North Solitary Island off Wooli. 4 The 19-year-old did not return after going surfing at One Tree, Wooli, on the state's North Coast on Wednesday afternoon. Marine Rescue NSW Deefholts described the story of survival as 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 told The Daily Telegraph. Advertisement He said Darcy was receiving medical treatment and he 'could not fathom' how the teen survived being swept miles out to sea. 'I'm still just processing everything. We've had no sleep and it has been a lot to deal with,' Deefholts said. Only hours earlier, Deefholts had issued a desperate plea to search nearby islands. 4 In an incredible development, the teen was found on Thursday morning, almost 8 miles out to sea on North Solitary Island off Wooli. Google Earth 'Boats – need one to go straight to North West Solitary Island,' he said in an update online. 'That's where they found a person last year that got washed up.' Deefholts's Facebook post now has more than 1100 shares, with members of the community flocking to offer assistance and well wishes. '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 currently,' he wrote at the time. Advertisement In a statement on Thursday morning, NSW Police said Darcy left his home in Wooli on a bicycle about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday and headed towards Wooli Beach. 4 Deefholts described the story of survival as a 'one-in-a-million miracle.' Google Earth 'When he failed to return home, concerned family members contacted officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District,' police said. 'Concerns are held for Darcy's welfare as his disappearance is out of character. Advertisement 'Darcy is described as being of caucasian appearance, of slim build, about 180cm tall, with black hair.' Marine Rescue NSW Inspector John Murray said Marine Rescue NSW vessel Wooli 30 was tasked just before 10 p.m. on Wednesday with the search-and-rescue mission. 'A volunteer crew was rapidly assembled and Wooli 30 deployed,' Inspector Murray said. Advertisement 'The crew searched waters from Bare Point in the north to Freshwater Beach in the south. Inspector Murray said Wooli 30 and Coffs Harbour 30 were back on the water at 8am on Thursday to continue the search. 'The volunteer crews will conduct search patterns under the direction of Marine Area Command,' he said.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- The Independent
Missing teen surfer ‘miraculously' found alive on remote Australian island
An Australian teenager who went missing after going for a surf off a New South Wales beach has been found alive on a remote island. Darcy Deefholts, 19, failed to return home after heading out for a surf off a beach in Wooli, a coastal town 480km north of Sydney on Wednesday. His father, Terry Deefholts, a real estate agent from Grafton, raised an alarm on social media asking for locals to help in finding his son as he "feared the worst". "HELP - I NEED BOATS, BEACH WALKERS, DRONES AND 4WDs and PLANES AT FIRST LIGHT," he wrote in an emotional plea. "My boy Darcy is still missing. Marine Rescue searched tonight from Bare Point to Pebbly Beach at sea. They have been stood down for the night but expect they will be back early to resume the search," he wrote on Facebook "I am 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. "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," he added. The New South Wales police said they officials were alerted by the teenager's family after he failed to return home. Police launched a land and water search around Wooli Beach and the surfer was located safety on a small island the next day. The teen was found marooned the North Solitary Island, located about 12km off the coast of Wooli, according to reports. He was taken to a medical centre for treatment. Terry Deefholts told the Daily Telegraph that 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,' the father said, adding: "I'm still just processing everything. We've had no sleep and it has been a lot to deal with."
Daily Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Daily Telegraph
'Pure torture': Aussie dad finds son lost at sea with Facebook search operation
Don't miss out on the headlines from Parenting. Followed categories will be added to My News. When 19-year-old Darcy Deefholts vanished this week, his dad Terry faced every parent's nightmare. But he responded in the only way he knew how: with action. 'It took all my resolve to hold my s**t together and focus,' Terry told Kidspot. Darcy had failed to return home after going surfing at One Tree, Wooli, on NSW's North Coast on Wednesday afternoon. Rescue teams located Darcy on a remote island off NSW on Thursday morning. Image: Supplied RELATED: 'Why dad alone, when we can dad together?' "Fearing the worst" Once marine officials stood down for the night, with the search set to resume Thursday morning, the determined dad turned to his community. He refused to sit back and wait. 'Tears and shouting at the wind weren't going to find my boy,' he said. Taking to Facebook he wrote: 'My boy Darcy is still missing. Marine Rescue searched tonight from Bare Point to Pebbly Beach at sea. They have been stood down for the night but expect they will be back early to resume the search.' 'I am 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.' He gave a rough description of Darcy's last known location, what he was wearing, and the wind conditions. 'Of course we are fearing the worst,' he wrote. 'There is only one thing we want now. Our beloved boy to be found safe.' Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. "The dark night of the soul" Terry launched a grassroots mission of his own. One late-night Facebook post at a time. Within hours, strangers were launching boats, drones took flight, and a digital village rose up to help. The post spread rapidly through local community pages, and a dedicated search group was created and monitored. 'There's much to say about the gratitude I've felt for this astonishingly beautiful community,' Terry said. The thought of losing his child had taken him to the brink. 'The idea of potentially losing my Darcy, well I'm going to call it the dark night of the soul. Pure torture that weighed so heavily it was almost crushing,' he explained. At around 8am Thursday morning, Terry got the news he'd been desperately hoping for. Darcy had drifted kilometres from shore and ended up stranded on an offshore island overnight. A private helicopter, arranged by a volunteer, spotted him. A boat was quickly dispatched to retrieve him. He was found cold, disoriented but miraculously unharmed. After nearly 16 hours missing at sea, his son was finally safe. Terry could finally breathe. 'I'm currently in the aftershock of a traumatic ordeal that had the best possible outcome,' he said. Terry was going to stop at nothing to find his son. Image: Supplied RELATED: Police use sound of mum's voice to try bring home her missing son For all the technology and rescue protocol, it all came down to a dad and a Facebook post. What could have been a tragedy became a miracle. Terry is now preparing a way to properly thank those who answered his call. 'I'm preparing a story to try and thank everyone. It's going to be a long one,' he said. This week proved that a parent never stops leaning on their village. Originally published as 'Pure torture': Aussie dad finds son lost at sea with Facebook search operation
