A surfer who was missing after paddling in the ocean on Wednesday afternoon was the next day on a remote island about 8 miles from where his bike and clothing were found on an access point in New South Wales, Australia.
The police of New South Wales said on Thursday morning in a press release that the 19-year-old man, later identified as Surfer Darcy Deefholts, was established after he had been wiped out and missing the day before.
The police said that Deefholts left his house in Wooli on a bicycle at about 2.30 pm on Wednesday to Wooli Beach.
After they did not return home, delivered family members contacted the police and started a search on land and sea around Wooli Beach.
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An Australian surfer who was missing on Wednesday was found on an island on Thursday, almost 8 miles off the coast. (Google Maps)
The next morning Deefholts was safely located on a small island called North Solitary, about 8 miles southeast of Wooli Beach.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that Darcy’s father, Terry Deefhols, could not believe that the news Darcy was found on Thursday at about 9 am.
“It’s rather surreal. I was on 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 who rode through the city on his bike was seen and fishing at the Wooli Breakwall.
Family members were concerned on Wednesday evening after Darcy’s clothing and bicycle were on an access point from the beach in Wooli, just east of Grafton.
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An Australian surfer who was missing on Wednesday was found on an island, almost 8 miles away off the coast of Wooli Beach in New South Wales July 10, 2025. (Google Earth)
Melissa Smith, a family member, said that the Darcy station was probably going too far on his surfboard and could not return to the coast.
“He is a survivor, a strong boy. He would have known that it was a safe place, I think,” she said.
ABC reported that family members believed that Darcy had a Malibu surfing board with him, although his smartwatch and mobile phone were left at home in Wooli.
Search efforts lasted on Thursday until 1 am and started with the first light.
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The police joined search efforts after a 19-year-old surfer was missing at Wooli Beach in New South Wales, Australia. (Istock)
Thursday morning’s efforts were six private vessels and a marine rescue team, although what was a mystery for some, was how calm the sea was and the small amount of wind and swelling.
“There is quite a bit of topical from north to south, so I suspect he ended up in [a] Current and driven to the south, “Marine Rescue skipper Matthew McLennan told ABC.
Later that morning one of the search teams found Darcy and reported that he was cold and suffered from exposure, although he was not injured.
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Darcy was transported to a nearby hospital after returning to the coast.
A spokesperson for the local health district in the north of New South Wales said in a statement obtained by the station that Darcy was in a stable state and “in good mood and is supported by family.”
