Rescuers find lost Australian surfer on uninhabited island: "One in a million miracle"
The man, named in local media as 19-year-old Darcy Deefholts, reportedly went for a surf off a beach in Wooli, a coastal town 300 miles north of Sydney.
He'd left home on Wednesday afternoon.
"When he failed to return home, concerned family members contacted officers," New South Wales police said in statement.
Police launched a land and water search around Wooli Beach and the surfer was "located safely" on the small island the following day, they said.
The man spent the night on North Solitary Island, about seven miles off the coast, according to Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
Tiny North Solitary Island is seen just off Australia's central east coast.
Google Maps
The rescue was a "one in a million miracle," the teenager's father, Terry, told the newspaper after earlier saying on social media he'd feared the worst.
His son was receiving medical treatment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Fisherman cops $2000 fine after sinister discovery in Aussie river
An Australian angler has copped a $2000 fine after authorities discovered he was allegedly using live carp as fishing bait, a serious breach of the law, and also deploying illegal setlines — unattended fishing gear anchored and left in the water with multiple hooks attached. This week, the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) officers were out patrolling Broken Creek in kayaks, a part of the Murray-Darling Basin, when they came across "several setlines baited with live carp". A man was allegedly found to have had live carp on his rods near Nathalia, along with approximately "17 live carp in his possession". VFA said "given the risk of the man's fishing activity spreading carp to other Victorian waters", officers proceeded to inspect his property, where they located "a large seine net, and several setlines like those observed in Broken Creek". As a result, the fisher received fines of more than $2000 for possessing live noxious aquatic species, using carp as live bait, and possessing commercial fishing equipment without authorisation. "Carp are a noxious aquatic species in Victoria, and one mature carp can lay up to a million eggs each year," a VFA spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia this week. "While we're supportive of recreational fishers who want to target carp to help reduce their numbers, they can't be returned to the water alive or used live as bait. We encourage fishers to dispose of carp responsibly and ring 13FISH if they see or suspect people doing the wrong thing.' According to the VFA, carp populations are at an all-time high in the Murray-Darling Basin, with astonishing estimates suggesting they comprise up to 90 per cent of fish biomass. Dr Tiana Pirtle, conservation officer with the Invasive Species Council, previously explained why carp are such nuisances across Australia. "They are taking over some waterways in Australia," she told Yahoo. "They are the most abundant, large freshwater fish in southeast Australia and are the most common fish now found in the Murray-Darling Basin. They are prolific breeders; a female carp can produce over one million eggs per kilo she weighs and can spawn several times a year." Alarming haul pulled from major Aussie river MP says it's 'time to release the virus' as invasive species takes over Trailer full of fish exposes disturbing reality in Aussie waterways Carp are also extremely hardy and very adaptable. "They can tolerate a wide range of conditions, allowing them to survive and thrive in a wide variety of riverways," Pirtle said. "They can cause significant changes to the river and lake environments that make those environments less suitable for native species and more suitable for them. For example, they can make the water murkier, which native fish, invertebrates and plants are less able to tolerate. This can lead to fewer native species and more carp in rivers and lakes. "They also compete with some native fish for food and spawning sites." As for setlines, they're illegal due to a combination of environmental, regulatory, and animal welfare concerns. The lines, which are left unattended with baited hooks, can cause prolonged suffering to fish and other wildlife that may be caught and left struggling or dying for extended periods. From a conservation perspective, setlines make it difficult to control how many fish are caught, increasing the risk of overfishing and breaching catch limits. They also pose a threat to non-target and protected species, including turtles, platypus and birds, which may become entangled or injured. Because setlines are not actively monitored, they undermine sustainable fishing efforts and enforcement of the rules, including those relating to size limits and humane dispatch. For these reasons, their use has been banned in Victorian inland waters, with significant penalties in place for anyone caught using them. VFA said setlines catch and kill iconic Murray cod of all sizes, above and below the slot limit, including large breeding fish that contribute significantly to future generations. They also entangle native wildlife that inhabit our rivers, such as platypus, rakali and water birds. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Boy, 9, shot during hunting trip: police
A child has been hospitalised after allegedly being shot during a hunting trip near Bourke overnight. Police commenced an investigation after a boy, 9, suffered a gunshot wound to his right thigh on Friday night. He was taken to Bourke Hospital about 7.15pm that night. Officers attached to Central North Police District have been told the boy was injured while on a hunting trip with nine others at a property about 40km north of Bourke. 'Police have spoken with the group, which comprises four boys, aged between nine and 15, and five men, aged between 37 and 63. All are from Victoria,' a NSW Police spokesman said. 17 firearms - including air rifles, rifles and a shotgun – have been seized. Inquiries into the incident and the group's firearms licences are ongoing. More to come.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Aussie driver cops $1000 fine, loses licence in blitz targeting 'concerning' road trend
A young driver has copped a $1000 fine and been banned from the road for six months as Queensland Police "conduct one of their largest simultaneous" safety blitzes in recent years. As the school holidays in the state come to a close, officers are reminding the public of the steep penalties in place for offenders flouting road rules. They warn of a "concerning" rise in "drivers operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol" across Brisbane. On June 27, police stopped a 23-year-old Wynnum man for a random breath test at a Shafston Avenue traffic enforcement site in Kangaroo Point. The man allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.152 per cent — three times over the limit. The man was charged with one count of driving under the influence and appeared before the Brisbane Magistrate Court on July 7. There, he was fined $1000 and had his licence disqualified for six months. Throughout the crackdown, numerous other alleged offences were detected on the road. On June 11, police responded to a crash on Dandenong Road where a Mazda collided with a pole. The female driver, the sole occupant, was taken to hospital as a precaution. A blood analysis allegedly showed her alcohol content was 0.141 per cent, nearly three times the legal limit. The 79-year-old woman from Corinda has been charged with one count of driving over the middle alcohol limit and is due to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on August 17. On July 10, a man was charged following a single-vehicle crash at Mount Coot-tha. Around 12.20 am, police were called to Scenic Drive after reports that a ute crossed onto the wrong side of the road and crashed. At the police station, the man allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.156 per cent. Major street change avalanche of new car models set to hit Australian market Aussie council responds after local left stunned by $1,000 fine Calls for road rule change as more Aussie cities reduce urban speed limits The vehicle was allegedly unregistered. The 25-year-old Kuraby man has been charged with driving under the influence and driving an unregistered vehicle. He is due to appear in court on August 5. South Brisbane District Acting Inspector Stephen Gough urged motorists to take accountability for their actions and think twice before they "get behind the wheel after drinking". "A split-second decision can lead to tragic life-long consequences," he warned. Across the city, more than 200 police from highway patrol units and general duties police conducted large-scale random breath test (RBT) and random drug tests (RDT). A total of 6,731 RBTs and 454 RDTs were conducted, detecting 18 people driving under the influence of alcohol and 21 people driving under the influence of drugs. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
