Update: Police confirm bone found at Byron shipwreck belonged to swimmer who vanished at beach in March last year

Police have provided much-needed answers for a family after a human bone was discovered in the water off a Byron Bay beach last year. Here’s the latest.

The Wreck is a popular surf spot in Byron Bay, named after the remains of the SS Wollongbar, which sank offshore during a cyclone in 1922.

Police have provided much-needed answers for a family after a human bone was discovered in the water off a Byron Bay beach last year.

Diving instructor Jason Baker found the human bone poking out of the ocean floor while he was exploring the SS Wollongbar wreck at Belongil Beach on May 6, 2023.

The bone was discovered by a scuba diver. Picture: 9News

Some speculated the bone belonged to Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez, who remains missing after last being seen in Byron Bay CBD in 2019 – but that was quickly dismissed.

Police now say forensic examinations have confirmed the bone belonged to a 31-year-old man reported missing while swimming at Byron Bay on March 1 last year.

The bone was discovered offshore at Belongil Beach, Byron Bay, on May 6, 2023.

The man’s family have been notified. It’s understood he is from the North Coast.

Initially, Tweed Byron Police District Detective Chief Inspector Matt Kehoe said DNA had been obtained.

He said it was hoped an early link could be made to a missing man, believed at the time to be a South American visitor.

“ … so that will be one of the first avenues of investigations we will pursue,” he said.

Insp Kehoe said the bone, seemingly a tibia, was of a substantial size and had likely been in the water for a couple of months.

Belongil Beach in the Byron Shire.

Officers found other items nearby that were also taken for testing.

“If people come across any things like that, please let police know so they can check it out at the location,” Insp Kehoe said, thankful for the diver’s help.

Police were told the 31-year-old man was seen struggling in the surf about 30 metres offshore of Main Beach in Byron Bay about 5.30pm, before he disappeared last year.

The incident was reported to police and a 22-year-old man tried to help him, but was overwhelmed by adverse conditions.

Swimmers jump off the remains of the SS Wollongbar wreck back in 2013.

A sweeping search involved NSW Ambulance, Surf Life Saving NSW, Fire and Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue and Queensland Police’s POLAIR helicopter.

Ultimately, it had to be called off after emergency services spent days combing the ocean.

Now, a fresh report will be prepared for the Coroner.

It comes after a swimmer believed to be in his 20s was pulled unconscious from popular surfing and swimming spot Tallow Beach at Byron on Thursday.

He could not be revived – marking another tragic drowning death in the holiday hot spot.