The search for a man missing in coastal waters has ended tragically. Photo: Narooma Rescue Squad – VRA Rescue NSW Facebook.
A man’s body found on a South Coast beach has been confirmed as a 23-year-old British national who went missing earlier this month.
Emergency services were called to Mystery Bay Beach (about 12 km south of Narooma) at about 6:40 pm on Sunday (18 January), amid reports that a man had fallen from a cliff.
Police previously said they were told the 23-year-old had “tripped and fallen several metres”, landing in the water.
When he did not resurface, a multiagency search was launched.
Late on Friday (23 January), police said a body washed up on Billies Beach, Corunna, at about 6:05 am that morning.
That site is north of Mystery Bay Beach, near Narooma.
On Wednesday afternoon (28 January), NSW Police confirmed the body had been formally identified as the 23-year-old.
“[It] is that of the missing 23-year-old UK National,” a spokesperson said.
“A report will be prepared for the coroner.”
The multiagency search was led by South Coast Police District officers, with assistance from members of Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW and the LifeSaver helicopter.
Their efforts spanned a stretch of coast from Bogola Head to the north to waters south of Bermagui, a police spokesperson previously said.
They scaled back their efforts on Tuesday afternoon (21 January).
