A teenage surfer who was lost at sea has defied the odds, surviving overnight by sheltering on a deserted island before being found by relatives.
Darcy Deefholts, 19, left home on his bike about 2.30pm on Wednesday to go surfing at Wooli Beach on the NSW mid-north coast.
When he didn't come home, his family reported him missing and an extensive search was launched by police and Marine Rescue NSW volunteers.
The search began at 10pm on Wednesday night before being suspended at 1am on Thursday.
The lucky teenager was found on Thursday morning on a small island in the North Solitary Island Nature Reserve, about 13km off the coast of Wooli.
He was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Mr Deefholts was found by a private boat carrying family members, launched after his father Terry made a passionate appeal to anyone in the local area who was able to help with the search.
"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," Terry Deefholts said on Facebook at about 2am on Thursday.
A spokesman for Marine Rescue NSW said it was a wonderful outcome for all involved in the massive search operation.
"Our volunteers were relieved and jumping for joy when they heard the news," the spokesman told AAP.
In March 2024, the body of a 29-year-old rock fisherman was recovered from the same nature reserve after he failed to return from a trip to Bare Point, north of Wooli.
