Latest news with #WooliBeach
Fox News
11-07-2025
- Fox News
Missing teen surfer found alive on remote island miles from shore: 'Didn't give up hope'
A surfer who went missing after paddling out in the ocean Wednesday afternoon was located the next day on a remote island roughly 8 miles from where his bicycle and clothes were found at a beach access point in New South Wales, Australia. The New South Wales Police Force said in a news release Thursday morning the 19-year-old man, later identified as surfer Darcy Deefholts, had been located after being swept away and going missing the day before. Police said Deefholts left his home in Wooli on a bicycle at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday toward Wooli Beach. After failing to return home, concerned family members contacted police, and a search on land and sea commenced around Wooli Beach. The next morning, Deefholts was located safely on a small island called North Solitary, about 8 miles southeast of Wooli Beach. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported Darcy's father, Terry Deefholts, could not believe the news Darcy had been found at about 9 a.m. Thursday. "It's kind of surreal. I was at the point of thinking the absolute worst," Terry Deefholts told the station. "I didn't give up hope, but, jeez, I was close." Earlier in the day, the teenager was seen riding his bike around town and fishing at the Wooli breakwall. Family members became concerned Wednesday night after Darcy's clothes and bicycle were located at a beach access point in Wooli, just east of Grafton. Melissa Smith, a family member, told the station Darcy likely went out too far on his surfboard and could not get back to shore. "He's a survivor, a strong boy. He would have known that was a safe place, I guess," she said. ABC reported that family members believed Darcy had a Malibu surfboard with him, though his smartwatch and cellphone were left at home in Wooli. Search efforts continued through about 1 a.m. Thursday and commenced at first light. Thursday morning's efforts included six private vessels and a Marine Rescue team, though what was puzzling to some was how calm the sea conditions were and the small amount of wind and swell. "There is a fair bit of current running north to south further out, so I suspect he has ended up in [a] current and drifted south," Marine Rescue skipper Matthew McLennan told ABC. Later that morning, one of the search crews found Darcy and reported that he was cold and suffering from exposure, though he was not injured. Darcy was transported to a nearby hospital after returning to shore. A spokesperson from the local health district in Northern New South Wales said in a statement obtained by the station that Darcy was in stable condition and "in good spirits and being supported by family."
ABC News
10-07-2025
- ABC News
Missing teenager surfer found on island of NSW North Coast
Darcy Deefholts went missing while fishing at Wooli Beach in the NSW Northern Rivers on Wednesday. ( Supplied: Terry Deefholts )
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Miraculous twist in desperate search for missing teen Darcy Deefholts who disappeared while surfing
A teenager has been found alive on a remote 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 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. But on Thursday morning, Darcy was found about 12km out at sea on North Solitary Island.
ABC News
09-07-2025
- ABC News
Search underway for Darcy Deefholts, 19, last seen fishing at Wooli Beach in NSW
A search is underway for 19-year-old surfer who has gone missing at a beach in the New South Wales Northern Rivers region. Darcy Deefholts was last seen fishing at the breakwall at Wooli Beach at around 3pm on Wednesday. His father Terry Deefholts said his son's bike, clothes and shoes were later found about 5 kilometres north at a spot known locally as One Tree. Mr Deefholts said his son had with him a Malibu surfboard, and he may have paddled out and been swept in a southerly direction. Wooli Marine Rescue volunteers and community members launched a search effort on Wednesday, with vessels searching along the beach and out into the ocean well into the night. "The crew searched waters from Bare Point in the north to Freshwater Beach in the south," Marine Rescue NSW Inspector John Murray said. "Wooli 30 [Marine Rescue vessel] returned to base at 1am after being stood down for the night." The search resumed at 8am today with favourable conditions offshore. The missing man had recently returned from working in Japan.
