Body found off the Gold Coast in search for missing jockey Chris Caserta

The body of missing jockey Chris Caserta has been recovered.

Police search for Chris Caserta on the Gold Coast on Thursday. Picture: Adam Head

Police have found the body of missing jockey Chris Caserta off the Gold Coast.

His body was located in about 200m from the sand pumping jetty on the Southport Spit on Friday morning following a masssive air and sea search, police said.

The body has been formally identified and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Caserta, 26, disappeared after going for a late night swim with fellow jockey Amy Graham at Surfers Paradise beach on Wednesday night.

His parents have arrived on the Gold Coast from Victoria.

Jockey Chris Caserta. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Victorian Jockeys’ Association released a statement Friday morning saying: “It is with great sadness the VJA can confirm the family have advised that police have found the body of Chris Caserta. RIP”

Caserta’s last winner Gem Of The Lochs – which is part owned by his partner Brittany Wise – will race at Ipswich today under jockey Jasmine Cornish after trainer Steven Wise revealed Caserta made the selfless decision to get off the horse, despite winning on her last start.

“To let you know how selfless he is, as soon as we knew we were going to this race, he said she is going to get some weight and I think she deserves every chance to win three in a row so I think you should claim,” Wise told RadioTAB.

“I will organise the perfect apprentice and I will talk to her and give her the details. He wrote out the details and sent it to her about exactly how to ride the horse.”

The heartbroken family of Caserta were told on Thursday the devastating news that he would not have survived a late-night swim on the Gold Coast.

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Senior-Sergeant Jay Notaro, of Gold Coast water police, said he had the “heartbreaking job” to tell Caserta’s parents in Victoria that it was no longer a search and rescue mission.

“We’re searching for Chris’s body as the timeframe for survival has passed,” he said.

“It is an absolute tragedy at any time but particularly just before Christmas.

“We’ll continue the search and our goal is to return Chris to his family.”

Sen-Sgt Notaro said the air, sea and land search stretched from South Stradbroke island to Burleigh Heads and involved police, surf lifesavers, Gold Coast City lifeguards, Volunteer Marine Rescue, the Lifeflight helicopter and Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

He said the search conditions “aren’t ideal”, with 20 knot winds, a choppy one-metre swell and “poor” water quality after this week’s heavy rain.

Sen-Sgt Notaro said the tragedy was a “timely reminder” to swim only on patrolled beaches during patrol hours.

“When not doing so, you are putting your own life at risk and also putting at risk the lives of those people who try and rescue you,’’ he said.

Missing jockey Chris Caserta rides Gem Of The Lochs to victory on the Gold Coast on November 13. Picture: Magic Millions

Gold Coast Turf Club officials told News Corp: “He was at Surfers Paradise beach last night and went for a swim at 10pm with a trackwork rider, they pulled her out and they can’t find him.

“The female track rider with him was rescued and was taken to hospital.”

There had been reports earlier that a body had been found but police said that was not the case.

On Thursday morning, Gold Coast chief lifeguard Chris Maynard said the situation was “not looking good”.

He said the likely tragedy highlighted the “huge risks” of swimming at night.

Search conditions are being made difficult by gusty winds, a solid swell and murky water from this week’s heavy rain.

The woman who was rescued from the surf and taken to hospital has been identified as apprentice jockey Amy Graham.

She was reportedly in a severely stressed state and had swallowed water but was otherwise in a stable condition.

Caserta, 26, is a former Victorian jockey who moved to Queensland last year to chase more opportunities.

The search for missing jockey Chris Caserta on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

In 2019 he was the talk of racing circles after his weight loss to ride Jedastar at 44kg in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington.

While Jedastar finished last in the 2019 Lightning, Caserta told News Corp earlier this year he would love another chance to ride at racing’s highest level and was trying to leave no stone unturned in his bid to start again and climb up racing’s highest peaks.

Southeast Queensland has been swamped by heavy rain and bad weather conditions this week with flooding reported in many areas.

A 73-year-old Roma man was the first person to lose their life in this week’s floods which have swept cars down creeks, damaged properties and forced the evacuation of Queensland towns.

The Westpac chopper joins the search for missing jockey Chris Caserta. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell said police resumed the search for Caserta on Thursday morning.

“Our thoughts are with Chris, and his family at this time,” Mr Parnell said.

The Gold Coast Turf Club is working with Racing Queensland to implement welfare support mechanisms for Chris’s family, friends and industry participants during this tough time.

GCTC chief executive Steve Lines said the news of Chris’s disappearance at Surfers Paradise on Wednesday night had deeply affected the entire racing community.

“Our heart goes out to Chris’s family and the entire racing community as the search continues,” said Lines.

“Chris has been riding trackwork at the Gold Coast Turf Club six days a week so he is an important part of our racing community.

“Welfare provider Benestar will be in attendance at the club to offer support for jockeys and industry participants.”

Gold Coast trainer Kacy Fogden, who has worked with Caserta in recent months, said he is very ambitious, “very professional”, he always followed race instructions to a tee and is always chasing rides.

“He’s the last thing from a bludger. He’s very professional. I know jockeys can lead colourful lives. He wasn’t over the top.”

He has been a constant morning presence at the Gold Coast tracks near the Magic Millions stables, working as a track rider for famed trainer Chris Waller.

“It’s just disbelief at the moment and this can’t be true,” Ms Fogden said.

“It’s very eerie at the track – everyone has heard what’s going on.”

Originally published as Body found off the Gold Coast in search for missing jockey Chris Caserta