Sunshine Coast police confirm name of swimmer missing off Teewah Beach in Cooloola

Friends and family are mourning the loss of a young Brisbane man who sadly, despite desperate efforts, was never found after being swept off Teewah Beach.

Friends and family are mourning the loss of Jye Mattern, 21, who was never found after being swept out at Teewah Beach. Photo: Facebook

The name of a young man who went missing after being swept off Teewah Beach two weeks ago has been confirmed.

A Water Police spokesman confirmed Jye Mattern, 21, was the swimmer who was tragically swept off Teewah Beach late last month.

The young man failed to return to shore Saturday, January 21 around 5pm after being caught in a rip and swept out to sea with one of the men he was with making it back to shore.

This triggered a widespread search for him on January 21 before a Queensland Police Service spokesman confirmed it scaled back on Thursday, January 26. The spokesman said the police was supporting his family, and police assets would continue to search the area when possible.

Since the start of the initial search, tributes have been flowing on Facebook for him, with one commenter saying, “I was shook when I heard this”.

Another commenter said, “He is such a strong boy, we will bring him home”.

Surf Life Saving Sunshine Coast lifesaving services co-ordinator Shane Urban said that it was a horror period for beach safety, with a 27-year-old Brisbane woman’s drowning death at Bulcock Beach on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Urban said the lifesaving rescue helicopter and lifeguards on jet skis joined the search for the young man.

“On Saturday afternoon when we were made aware our assets were rallied and went straight to the scene,” he said.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter at the opening of the 2018/19 surf lifesaving season in Surfers Paradise. Photo: Cameron Ward

Mr Urban said the poor radio and phone reception in the area was a contributing factor.

“One of the challenges that added to the response we were able to do was the lack and even zero radio and phone reception in the area,” he said.

“All of the locals know how poor it is so it may well have delayed the response time because when the initial call was made it wasn’t from the point of the scene, it was from further down the beach.”

Mr Urban said this emergency was another reminder for people to swim between the red and yellow flags.

“I want to enforce the message, especially ahead of the Australia Day holiday, to please swim between the flags and be a lifesaver with us.” he said.

“Lead by example by not swimming in isolated areas because what happens, even if you might be a strong swimmer and know the area like the back of your hand, other people follow you in and it can be tragic like we’ve seen.”