The parents of a young surfer stabbed to death in a Coffs Harbour beach carpark after a morning surf earlier this month, have made a desperate plea for the perpetrator to come forward and own up to their “mistake”.
Kye Shaefer, 21, was still wearing his wetsuit when he was stabbed multiple times in the surf club carpark at Park Beach, on Ocean Pde at Coffs Harbour, about 6.40am on May 4.
He was found in a critical condition beside his orange Ford sedan and taken to Coffs Harbour Base Hospital, where he died a short time later.
Shaefer’s parents, Pam and Tony Shaefer, on Wednesday called on the person responsible for Kye’s death to come forward.
“Just be honest and own up to your mistakes in life. Everyone makes them,” Tony said.
Pam and Tony also thanked their local community, after a GoFundMe for Kye’s grieving family raised twice its $10,000 goal to support funeral costs.
“No words can describe how we’re feeling, the sheer loss of our faith in humanity,” Pam said on Wednesday.
“The love and support of our family and friends have been absolutely phenomenal, that’s what’s kept us out of this black hole.”
Tony added: “The local community have been so supportive. We thank everyone very much for the assistance and help given us through these hard times.”
Kye, a young soccer and futsal enthusiast, has been remembered as a ”beautiful young boy” with a “big heart with a big smile” by loved ones on the GoFundMe.
“Kye will be profoundly missed by his family, friends and members of the community,” it said.
Pam and Tony joined NSW Police in calling for any witnesses with any information about the incident to come forward.
“If you think of anything at all — you may not think it is important, yet it might be something that makes the difference,” Pam said on Wednesday.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty last week appealed for a man riding a bicycle in the area about the time the young surfer was killed, to come forward.
Doherty called the murder “random” and “unprovoked” and said police were investigating whether it was related to an alleged robbery in the area or if Schaefer had seen someone breaking into his car.
“Police have established Strike Force Kooringaroo and urge anyone who may have had their cars broken into at the (beach) carpark between 6am and 6.30am or had confronted anyone in the area to contact police,” Doherty said last Wednesday.
“Investigators think the person responsible may have travelled back from the carpark towards the creek and bridge area (near the beach).“
