Family, volunteers search for missing teenager Jacob Partridge after Emerald Beach disappearance

Dozens of volunteers, aided by drones, have scoured an area of northern NSW as the parents of a missing teenager continue to pound the pavement in a desperate bid to find answers.

The parents of Jacob Partridge continue to pound the pavement in northern NSW, aided by dozens of volunteers in their desperate bid to find the missing teenager almost a month after his disappearance.

His mother, Liza Partridge, told this publication the family was having its “ups and downs” despite police investigators checking in twice a week.

Jacob, then aged 17, was last seen about 11pm on December 6 at Emerald Beach, some 20km north of Coffs Harbour.

Despite a five-day extensive land, air and marine search – suspended on December 11 – there has been no sign of Jacob, whose 18th birthday has since passed.

“We’re pushing on because we really don’t know what’s happened to him,” Ms Partridge said.

Missing teenager Jacob Partridge. Picture: Supplied

“We’re still in hope, I guess, that we’ll find him … or we’ll start to find traces of him at least.

“We’re still out very actively looking. That’s how we’re coping.”

The search for Jacob Partridge continues. Picture: Supplied

She said there was not a lot of downtime and, with the help of two friends, she was keeping a dedicated “Find Jacob Partridge” Facebook page going.

Along with her husband and Jacob’s two brothers, the family continues to drop leaflets into post boxes and hang them up “everywhere we can”.

Jacob’s youngest brother has learned how to fly a drone and is now using it alongside volunteers in the ongoing search.

Jacob’s older brother dropped everything to help find his missing sibling, only now needing to return to his own family, his mum said.

Liza Partridge with her son, Jacob, when he was much younger. Picture: Facebook

“So yeah … we all just want him back,” Ms Partridge said.

“Some days, it’s hard to keep that hope.”

Police touch base with the family twice a week, advising them on the outcomes of leads that have come in via Crime Stoppers.

“We’ve had a lot going through Crime Stoppers because we’ve been so active on the Facebook page for Jacob, so we’ve had a lot of momentum with that,” Ms Partridge said.

NSW Police Acting Inspector Nick Dixon during an earlier stage of the search for Jacob Partridge.

Originally from Newcastle, the Partridge family settled in Emerald Beach, where their children have grown up.

“We’re very much a part of the community here at Emerald Beach, very accepted, and everyone’s been completely rocked by this,” Ms Partridge said.

She said it was one thing to have things happen in Emerald Beach to those not from the area, but when something happened to a local, it really “hits home” for a lot of people.

“I think that’s why we’ve had the support, “ she said.

“We all know one another and are friends in one way or another … they’ve all been really great supports.”

A strong 30-plus volunteer group, including hikers, hunters and others with bush skills, searched an area between Johnsons Rd and Holloways Rd on Sunday.

The organised search focused on a walk through dense bushland along Graham Dr, Sandy Beach.

“Jacob was last seen heading north and there are areas nearby that need to be covered,” Ms Partridge said.

Phil Benfield, from Search and Rescue Services, aided the group by flying drones over the area.

However, Jacob remains missing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Coffs Harbour Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Originally published as Family, volunteers search for missing teenager Jacob Partridge after Emerald Beach disappearance