Overview

• A multi-agency search spanning land, sea and air covered a 15km stretch from Bare Point to Freshwater Beach before pausing at 1am and restarting at 8am Thursday
• Darcy Deefholts was located alive about 9am Thursday on North Solitary Island by rescuers including his uncle, roughly 13km offshore
• He was taken to Grafton Base Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition under observation by the Northern NSW Local Health District
• Local weather and tidal expertise combined with community volunteers and official crews to guide private vessels directly to the island
• Official search operations have concluded and NSW Police and Marine Rescue NSW are reviewing protocols for coast-to-island rescue missions