Latest news with #NorthSolitaryIsland
The Sun
10-07-2025
- The Sun
Teen surfer dramatically rescued after being swept 9 miles offshore and spending night stranded on remote desert island
A 19-YEAR-OLD surfer was miraculously found alive and well after getting marooned on an offshore island in Australia. Darcy Deefholts's dad described the rescue as "one in a million" after a major search operation located his son. 5 5 5 The teen had been missing for 17 hours when he was found on North Solitary Island off the New South Wales coast. He had taken his surf board to Wooli beach on Tuesday afternoon, but his parents contacted the police when he did not return home. Darcy was swept some nine miles out to sea, and his parents put out a panicked plea for help on social media. His clothes, bike and shoes were found at an access point to the beach. His dad Terry wrote that he needed "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". He posted: "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. We think he was wearing a dark rashy. "Of course we are fearing the worst. We are overwhelmed by the community efforts in the search so far. "There is only one thing we want now – our beloved boy to be found safe." Authorities later confirmed the teen was found on North Solitary Island - where he had been marooned overnight - at 9am on Thursday. A NSW police spokesperson said: "Following a land and water search around Wooli beach, including local police, PolAir, Marine Area Command and Marine Rescue, the man was located safe today on a small island off Wooli." Love Island star reveals she's moving to Australia to get a 9-5 job A spokesperson for the Northern NSW local health district said he was in a stable conditionat Grafton base hospital. "The patient is in good spirits and is being supported by family,' the spokesperson said. "The family would like to thank emergency services and members of the community involved in the search, after the alarm was raised late yesterday when he failed to return home from a surf." Family friend Casey Meaker set up a Facebook group to find Darcy during the fraught few hours. He wrote: "After an incredibly long and cold night, Darcy was found this morning out on the islands off Wooli. "He made it a long way out – but he's ALIVE, safe, and getting the care he needs. "We are absolutely blown away by the strength of this young man and the power of this incredible community." Terry called it a "one in a million" rescue. He said "Who survives this?" "It's kind of surreal. I was at the point of thinking the absolute worst." 5
ABC News
10-07-2025
- ABC News
Missing surfer Darcy Deefholts located after spending a night marooned on offshore island
A 19-year-old surfer has been found on an offshore island off the New South Wales north coast following a multi-agency search for the teenager. The alarm was raised after dark on Wednesday night when Darcy Deefholts's clothes were found at a beach access point at Wooli, east of Grafton. Family member Melissa Smith said Mr Deefholts's uncle was among searchers who found him about 9am on North Solitary Island. "He'd obviously gone out too far on his long board and he couldn't get back," she said. Terry Deefholts said he couldn't believe his son Darcy had been found. "It's kind of surreal. I was at the point of thinking the absolute worst," Mr Deefholts said. "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." It had been a tough night for Darcy Deefholt's family. They knew the teen had been seen fishing at the Wooli breakwall about 3pm on Wednesday, and riding around town on his bike. They had found his bike, clothes and shoes about 5 kilometres north of the breakwall at a spot known locally as One Tree. They believed he had a Malibu surfboard with him, but his phone and smart watch had been left at their house in Wooli. 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. Terry Deefholts thanked the community response across Wooli and Grafton who all mobilised to help find his son.
