21 January 2026

Multi-day search scaled back for 23-year-old missing in coastal waters

| By Claire Sams
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Two helicopters in the sky

NSW Police will continue “proactive patrols”, a spokesperson said. Photo: Narooma Rescue Squad – VRA Rescue NSW/Facebook.

Authorities have scaled back a search for a 23-year-old man missing in waters off a South Coast beach.

Emergency services were called to Mystery Bay Beach (about 12 kilometres south of Narooma) at about 6:40 pm on Sunday (18 January).

Officers attached to the South Coast Police District attended and were told he had “tripped and fallen several metres” off a cliff, landing in the water.

Police, assisted by Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue NSW, the SES, and the VRA, began the search.

However, the man has not been found.

On Tuesday (20 January), a NSW Police spokesperson announced the search was being scaled back, as of about 1 pm.

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Sunday’s search efforts resumed at 7:30 am yesterday (19 January), led by South Coast Police District officers and with assistance from Marina 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, police said on Monday.

The search was suspended overnight before resuming at around 8 am yesterday (20 January).

Marine Area Command led Tuesday’s search with assistance from Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW and the LifeSaver helicopter.

NSW Police Marine Area Command will continue “proactive patrols” over the coming days, the spokesperson said.

Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.

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