Tweed Coast: Search for missing female surfer at Kingscliff

A female surfer who went missing in rough seas on the Tweed Coast has been found safe after a major search operation.

A surfer missing in rough seas off the Tweed Coast has been found safe.

A land and sea search was activated after the woman was seen in difficulty late on Tuesday morning.

Tweed-Byron police said emergency services were searching for a woman with dark hair, wearing a beige one-piece swimsuit and carrying a white surfboard.

“Witnesses reported to police the surfer appeared to be in trouble in the rough surf behind the Kingscliff bowling club at around 11am,” police said.

“Further reports were received that a female surfer was seen leaving the beach (and) police are trying to confirm if it is the same person.”

Police, surf lifesavers and paramedics were involved in the land and sea search.

A witness reported seeing a person matching the description exit the water “several hundred metres north of the search site”.

“Assets were scaled back but not stood down until she was then found safe and well and the search was suspended,” Surf Life Saving NSW said in a statement.