Search for missing Margaret River surfer called off due to harsh conditions

The search for a missing surfer in Western Australia was finally called off on Saturday due to difficult conditions. The man, estimated to be in his 40s, went missing at Surfer's Point in Prevelly, the surf break best known as the venue for the Margaret River Pro Championship tour stop.

The man was first spotted by another surfer, who noticed him struggling in the water on Friday around 4:35 p.m. However, due to the difficult conditions, the surfer was unable to reach the man to help him, according to a police statement. Joey Rawson from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said ABC News swells were estimated at 12 feet with light offshore winds, causing “towers of waves to break through and crash onto the shore.”

From there, authorities were called, which launched a large-scale rescue operation. “A number of police officers and emergency services were deployed to the scene and a preliminary search of the aquatic area and beach was undertaken,” a police spokesperson explained, according to the statement. Daily Mail.

The search continued on Saturday, with the participation of local maritime rescue services and jet skis. However, as of midday, the man had still not been located and the search was called off due to the difficult conditions, according to ABC.

Surfer's Point is notable for being the site of the Margaret River Pro, a perennial stop on the WSL Championship Tour. Recently, the WSL and WA governments announced they had signed a deal to secure the venue's place on the tour until 2028.