Tugun community rallies to help teen Jack Topp find his late dad’s lost boogie board after it was swept out to sea
The power of social media and a caring community has worked wonders for a Tugun teen who watched helplessly as a precious memento of his late dad floated out to sea. Here’s what happened.
Southern
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THE power of social media and a caring community has worked wonders for a Tugun teen who watched helplessly as his late father’s boogie board was swept out to sea.
Jack Topp, 14, was bodyboarding with a mate at Tugun beach early on Monday morning when he had to quickly throw his board over a wave and duck.
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His mother Danielle Topp said the board was swept out quickly and neither of the teens felt confident swimming after it.
She said the boys kept an eye on the board, which was bought by her late husband Bruce Topp, as it floated further out to sea but they eventually lost sight of it.
“Jack was very upset. It’s not an expensive board by any means, but his dad bought it and he was upset watching something of his dad’s float out to sea,” Ms Topp said.
“I thought I’d put a post on the community pages to see if anyone had seen it because a lot of people see those posts.
“A woman had tagged her brother who was a lifeguard at Tallebudgera. He called me because he just so happened to see it strapped to the back of a police buggy on the beach but didn’t think anything of it.”
Ms Topp said she then contacted a friend whose husband was a police officer and he made some calls.
She said as her friends worked to find out where the boogie board went, senior constable Paul Jacobs from Palm Beach Police messaged her via Facebook.
“He messaged me and said ‘I found your board, pop down to the Palm Beach station tomorrow’. He said it made his day that he picked it up.
“My son was super excited last night when he realised it was found and reading all the lovely, caring comments on the post.
“It’s really lovely of the community.”
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