Missing teen surfer found alive on remote island miles from shore: 'Didn't give up hope'

A surfer who went missing after paddling out in the ocean Wednesday afternoon was located the next day on a remote island roughly miles from where his bicycle and clothes were exposed at a beach access point in New South Wales Australia The New South Wales Police Force revealed in a news release Thursday morning the -year-old man later identified as surfer Darcy Deefholts had been located after being swept away and going missing the day before Police disclosed Deefholts left his home in Wooli on a bicycle at about 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 AT LEAST DEAD MISSING AFTER FERRY SINKS NEAR BALIThe next morning Deefholts was located safely on a small island called North Solitary about miles southeast of Wooli Beach The Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC broadcasted Darcy s father Terry Deefholts could not believe the news Darcy had been detected at about a m Thursday It s kind of surreal I was at the point of thinking the absolute worst Terry Deefholts stated the station I didn t give up hope but jeez I was close Earlier in the day the teenager was seen riding his bike around town and fishing at the Wooli breakwall Family members became concerned Wednesday night after Darcy s clothes and bicycle were located at a beach access point in Wooli just east of Grafton AMERICAN TOURIST VANISHES IN TROPICAL PARADISE AFTER EARLY MORNING WALK FROM VACATION RENTALMelissa Smith a family member advised the station Darcy likely went out too far on his surfboard and could not get back to shore He s a survivor a strong boy He would have known that was a safe place I guess she announced ABC announced that family members concluded Darcy had a Malibu surfboard with him though his smartwatch and cellphone were left at home in Wooli Search efforts continued through about a m Thursday and commenced at first light FREAK ACCIDENT AT THE BEACH SENDS TEEN TO ICU AS MOM WARNS OF WATERFRONT DANGERThursday morning s efforts included six private vessels and a Marine Rescue company though what was puzzling to certain was how calm the sea conditions were and the small amount of wind and swell 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 stated ABC Later that morning one of the search crews determined Darcy and broadcasted 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 healthcare district in Northern New South Wales stated in a declaration obtained by the station that Darcy was in stable condition and in good spirits and being supported by family