Bone found on NSW beach identified as man missing since November 2023

Human remains have been identified after a man found a bone on the shoreline of a beach two weeks ago.

Human remains have been identified after a man found a bone on the shoreline of a NSW beach.

The bone was found at Stockton Beach in Newcastle about 3pm on August 26.

Human remains found on Stockton Beach have been identified. Picture: Port Stephens SLSA Support Operations Group/Hunter Surf Life-Saving Facebook page.

The remains belong to a 20-year-old reported missing in November 2023. Picture: Port Stephens SLSA Support Operations Group/Hunter Surf Life-Saving Facebook page

The grim discovery was reported to police.

Following forensic testing, the remains have been identified as a 20-year-old man who was reported missing from the beach on November 26, 2023.

The death is not believed to be suspicious and is understood to likely be a drowning.

A major search was launched last year after a group of swimmers got into trouble at Stockton Beach.

A land and air search was launched to try to find the 20-year-old last year. Picture: Port Stephens SLSA Support Operations Group/ Hunter Surf Life-Saving Facebook page

Emergency services were called to the beach about 3pm on November 26.

Three swimmers were rescued; however, a fourth was unable to be found.

One was taken to hospital following the incident, while the other two were uninjured.

A land and air search was launched to try to find the 20-year-old man at the time.

Originally published as Bone found on NSW beach identified as man missing since November 2023