Shelly Beach drowning: Body of Travis Davis found after swept to sea

The family of a 20-year-old Capalaba man who vanished in the surf at Caloundra have been left devastated after rescue crews discovered his body off the coastline.

Queensland police have confirmed the body of 20-year-old Capalaba man Travis Davis has been discovered in the surf at Caloundra.

Senior Sergeant Steve Hall said Mr Davis’ body had been found 4m below the surface of the water off Shelly Beach about 12pm Sunday.

Water Police on jet skis found the man south of where he went missing.

The father of Mr Davis said his son’s disappearance didn’t “feel real” as rescue crews ramped up their search on day two.

Hundreds of people lined Caloundra’s coastline on Sunday as rescue crews searched for Travis Davis who was swept away at Shelly Beach Saturday afternoon.

Shane Davis sat with his family at the lookout next to Moffat Beach, and told the Sunshine Coast Daily his son’s disappearance felt like a nightmare.

“It just feels so surreal,” he said.

“It doesn’t feel real … and all we can do is just sit and wait until he’s found.”

Police said Mr Davis was swimming with a 20-year-old Ferny Hills man when they were showing signs of distress in the surf.

Three members of the public tried to rescue the two men.

They pulled one swimmer to safety.

But Mr Davis remained missing.

An extensive air and sea search by police and including Surf Life Saving Queensland and the Coast Guard was underway.

Mr Davis’ brother Kerrod said the family had a restless night after the police paused their search late Saturday.

“We didn’t get any sleep last night,” he said.

“It was so hard for us to just be in the house while Travis was still out there.”

Travis Davis and his partner Jassamyn Cairn-Turner. Picture: Contributed

Travis’ partner Jassamyn Cairns-Turner said she was at their Capalaba home waiting for Mr Davis to return from Caloundra when she heard a car arrive.

“I just assumed it was Travis, even though he was really late, and then it was police,” he said.

“My heart just sank when they told us, and we came straight up.”

Kerrod Davis rushed from Capalaba to Caloundra when news broke his brother Travis had disappeared on Saturday night.

“He’s just a loveable person, and we just want to be able to find him,” Kerrod said.

“Our family is just struggling right now … we just want him to be okay.”

The family of 20-year-old Capalaba man Travis Davis desperately searched for him after he vanished in the surf at Caloundra on December 4. Picture: Contributed

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said one man in his 20s was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital after being pulled from the surf.

Kerrod Davis said his brother had been visiting family in Caloundra when he and his mate went for a swim at the unpatrolled beach.

Family members, including Kerrod, rushed from Capalaba to Caloundra Saturday evening after being notified by police of their brother’s disappearance.

The family stood at Shelly Beach Saturday night as police divers ramped up their search to find the missing man.

Kerrod said his brother worked as a chef in Capalaba, and loved working with cars and going outdoors.

“He loved riding his dirt bikes up in the Glass House Mountains and wherever he could,” he said.

“Whenever he wasn’t working he’d be out on a trip somewhere.”

Lifesavers desperately searched for Mr Davis for several hours in the afternoon before police divers took over the search on Saturday.

Their search ran until 9pm last night and continued at first light Sunday with the Water Police, SLSQ and Police Dive Squad.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

A three-day search in water off Coolum Beach ended in tragedy after a man’s body was found 300m north of where he went missing. Picture: Patrick Woods

The drowning comes nine months after Kyle Schroduer drowned when he was swept away in a rip at Stumers Creek in March.

The body of the popular 21-year-old Brisbane man was found three days later north of Coolum Beach – about 300m from where he was last seen.