Australian Teen Goes Missing While Surfing, Found Alive On Remote Island Days Later

Last Updated:July 12, 2025, 11:39 IST

The father of the boy sought help on social media and also asked people to come to the main Wooli boat ramp and take him to sea so that he can help in the rescue operation.

Representative image

Days after an Australian teen went missing while surfing off a northern NSW beach has been found alive on a remote island miles offshore, reported the New York Times.

The boy, identified as 19-year-old Darcy Deefholts, went on surfing at One Tree, Wooli, on the state’s North Coast on Wednesday afternoon, and then disappeared.

A tense father and a real estate agent from Grafton, Terry Deefholts asked for help on social media saying he was “fearing the worst." He told about the disappearance of his son in an emotional plea on social media.

“HELP – I NEED BOATS, BEACH WALKERS, DRONES AND 4WDs and PLANES AT FIRST LIGHT. My boy Darcy is still missing. Marine Rescue searched tonight from Bare Point to Pebbly Beach at sea. They have been stood down for the night but expect they will be back early to resume the search," read his post.

He also asked people to come to the main Wooli boat ramp (a location where boats are launched into the water) and take him to sea so that he can help in the rescue operation.

“I am asking anyone with a seaworthy vessel to please meet me at the main Wooli boat ramp and take me to sea to help with the search," he wrote further.

While Deefholts feared the “worst", his son was found on Thursday morning, nearly 13 kilometres out to sea on North Solitary Island off Wooli.

Calling it a “one-in-a-million miracle."

“I haven’t had the chance to talk to him yet, I’m just so over the moon," he told The Daily Telegraph.

News world Australian Teen Goes Missing While Surfing, Found Alive On Remote Island Days Later