A surfer who went missing at sea has been found alive in a remarkable turn of events.
On July 10, Australian officials confirmed that 19-year-old Darcy Deefholts, a resident of Wooli, was discovered on a remote island about eight miles offshore—one day after he vanished. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the teen had left home on July 9, riding his bike toward the beach but never returned, prompting his family to alert authorities.
A large-scale search operation was launched, involving local police, PolAir, the Marine Area Command, and Marine Rescue. Officials eventually located Darcy safe and sound on a small uninhabited island off the coast of Wooli.
His father, Terry Deefholts, told ABC he was overwhelmed with disbelief and relief.
“It feels unreal,” he said. “I was almost convinced we had lost him. I never gave up hope, but it was close. It’s like a one-in-a-million outcome. Who actually makes it through something like that?”
