A missing surfer has been found alive and safe on an island 13 kilometres from the NSW coast after he was swept out to sea and survived the night.
Darcy Deefholts, 19, did not return home on Wednesday after going surfing at One Tree, Wooli, on the state’s North Coast.
A land and water search was launched around Wooli Beach, but was called off at dark.
Incredibly, Darcy was located on North Solitary Island, a small diving island off Wooli, 18 hours later on Thursday.
Darcy’s father, real estate agent Terry Deefholts, said his survival was “one in a million”.
“It’s kind of surreal. I was at the point of thinking the absolute worst,” Deefholts told the ABC.
“I didn’t give up hope, but jeez I was close.
“It’s a one in a million. Who survives this?
“Just quietly, I’ll kill him.”
Family member Melissa Smith said Deefholts’s uncle was among searchers who found Darcy.
“He’d obviously gone out too far on his longboard and he couldn’t get back,” she told the ABC.
“He’s a survivor, a strong boy, he would have known that was a safe place I guess.”
As the sun set on without any trace of Darcy on Wednesday, his father said the family “feared the worst”.
Deefholts made a public plea on social media for anyone with a boat to take him out to sea so he could help with the search.
“HELP — I NEED BOATS, BEACH WALKERS, DRONES AND 4WDs and PLANES AT FIRST LIGHT,” Deeholts posted on Facebook.
“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. I will go any time.”
“There is only one thing we want now — our beloved boy to be found safe.”
NSW Police said Darcy left his home in Wooli on a bicycle about 2.30pm Wednesday towards Wooli Beach.
“As far as we can tell, Darcy took a cream Malibu surfboard with him to One Tree at Wooli and went for a surf in very small swell some time around 4pm,” said Deefholts.
A friend who had spent 20 years in rescue gave the family hope when he said the water, at 20 degrees, would be “survivable.”
Police thanked the public and media for their assistance.
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