A young surfer who was killed in a horrific stabbing at a beach on NSW’s Mid North Coast, is being remembered by loved ones for his “big heart” and “free spirit”.
Kye Schaefer, 22, was found with “significant” stab wounds to his body in the carpark of a Coffs Harbour beach about 6.40am on Thursday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: A 22-year-old surfer has been fatally stabbed at a Coffs Harbour beach.
He was taken to Coffs Harbour Base Hospital in a critical condition and died a short time later.
Since the brutal attack, the community has continued to support Schaefer’s devastated friends and family.
A GoFundMe page organised to help Schaefer’s family described the young man as someone who “lived life to the fullest”.
“A big heart with a big smile,” the organiser said.
“Kye will be profoundly missed by his family, friends and members of the community.
“Please contribute to help Kye’s family deal with this tragedy, and so they know they are not alone during this difficult time.”
Kye was a member of the Woolgoolga Soccer Club, the post continued, and also previously the North Coast Futsal Club.
The investigation into the violent attack is continuing.
Police and other emergency services, including SES personnel, scoured the beach and surrounding areas for evidence on Thursday.
They also searched bushland near the man’s car.
Avenues of inquiry include whether Schaefer came across someone breaking into his car, and if there is any relation with a confrontation at another beachside area on Thursday morning, police said.
“We’ve identified some items of interest at a campsite around the jetty area,” Detective Chief Inspector Guy Flaherty said on Thursday.
“This area may or may not be related but at this point we’ve declared a crime scene.”
Flaherty said Schaefer was found at the side of his orange Ford sedan.
“We believe he had recently come out of the surf and was wearing a black wetsuit and using a small, short board surfboard,” he said.
“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.
“Investigators think the person responsible may have travelled back from the carpark towards the creek and bridge area (near the beach).“
The offender is yet to be found.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses who may have been near the surf club carpark between 6am and 6.40am on Thursday.
