A surfer who disappeared after heading into the ocean on Wednesday afternoon was discovered the following day on a distant island about 8 miles from where his bicycle and clothes were initially found at a beach access point in New South Wales, Australia.
The New South Wales Police Force announced in a Thursday morning news release that the 19-year-old man, identified as surfer Darcy Deefholts, had been found after being carried away and reported missing the previous day.
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.
Police joined search efforts after a 19-year-old surfer went missing at Wooli Beach in New South Wales, Australia. (iStock)
Efforts on Thursday morning involved six private boats and a Marine Rescue team. However, the calm sea conditions, coupled with minimal wind and waves, left some perplexed.
“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.”
