Missing teen surfer Darcy Deefholts, 19, found alive after frantic search

A father is elated after his teen son, who failed to return home from a surf, was found alive and well 18 hours later – and more than 13km out to sea – on a remote island off the northern NSW coast in a “one in a million miracle”.

Darcy Deefholts, 19, pictured, did not return from a surf at Wooli’s One Tree Beach on Wednesday afternoon, sparking a widespread search. Picture: Supplied/Google Maps.

A father is elated after his teen son, who failed to return home from a surf, was found alive and well 18 hours later – and more than 13km out to sea – on a remote island off the northern NSW coast in a “one in a million miracle”.

Terry Deefholts, a real estate agent with Lifestyle Grafton, put out a frantic call on social media after his son Darcy, 19, did not return after going surfing at One Mile Beach, Wooli, on the state’s north coast on Wednesday afternoon.

An extensive search was sparked involving Marine Rescue NSW, volunteers from the community and NSW Police with assistance from PolAir.

On Thursday, Mr Deefholts said he was “fearing the worst” after Darcy’s shoes, clothes and bike were found off a beach track near a spot known to locals as One Tree.

He wrote on social media: “There is only one thing we want now – our beloved boy to be found safe.”

When the teen was found later that morning, more than 18 hours later and almost 13km (eight miles) out to sea on North Solitary Island off Wooli, Mr Deefholts exclusively told The Daily Telegraph the story of survival was a “one in a million miracle”.

“I’m just so over the moon,” Mr Deefholts tearfully told this publication.

Marine Rescue NSW crews searching for the missing teen off the northern NSW coast near Coffs Harbour and Wooli. Picture: Supplied / Marine Rescue NSW

He said Darcy was receiving medical treatment at Grafton Base Hospital and he “could not fathom” how the teen survived the eight mile crossing out to sea.

“I’m still just processing everything. We’ve had no sleep and it has been a lot to deal with,” he said.

Search efforts resumed on Thursday morning. Picture: Supplied / Marine Rescue NSW

Mr Deefholts thanked the community and volunteers for their “huge efforts”.

It is not clear how Darcy managed to drift to the island, or whether he spent the night on the island itself or was adrift at sea before he was rescued. A source said the teen was “obviously cold” but otherwise in good spirits.

A sign has been spotted in the town of Wooli, where a young surfer Darcy Deefholts, 19 has been found about 12kms of the coast on a small island, North Solitary Island, after he failed to return home from surfing. Picture: Supplied

Darcy’s step mother Melissa Smith told the ABC the teen had “obviously gone too far out on his long board and couldn’t get back”.

The island forms part of the Solitary Islands group, a chain of rocky outcrops off of Wooli. North Solitary Island is known for its world-class dive site, home to a wide array of marine life.

It followed an extensive search undertaken by Marine Rescue NSW and police, after Darcy was last seen about 2.30pm when he left home on his bike with a malibu surfboard in tow.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector John Murray earlier on Thursday detailed the exhaustive efforts of his team.

He said the vessel Wooli 30 was tasked by the NSW Police Marine Area Command just before 10pm on Wednesday.

“The crew searched waters from Bare Point in the north to Freshwater Beach in the south. Conditions were favourable offshore. Wooli 30 returned to base at 1am after being stood down for the night.”

They were back on the water by 8am, and Darcy was miraculously found soon after.

This photo shows how far out the isolated North Solitary Island is from the beach where teen surfer Darcy Deefholts went missing on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Toni Moon.

Mr Deefholts said “very smart” locals with excellent wind and tide knowledge helped in the efforts to locate Darcy.

He said according to “calculations”, the weater temperature would have been “survivable” for Darcy and that the tide would have swept the teen to the island, where another person was found last year who had been washed out.

According to Northern NSW Health, the 19-year-old remained in hospital under observation in a stable condition

“The patient is in good spirits and is being supported by family,” a spokesman said.

“The family would like to thank emergency services and members of the community

involved in the search.”

Originally published as Missing teen surfer Darcy Deefholts, 19, found alive after frantic search