The devastated family of a murdered young surfer who was stabbed multiple times in an early morning attack on a popular New South Wales beach have broken their silence.
Kye Schaefer, 21, was fatally stabbed in the neck and chest after leaving the surf at Park Beach on Ocean Parade in Coffs Harbor about 6.40am last Thursday.
He was taken to hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Now his sister Mimi has spoken out to thank the first responders who fought to try to save her brother’s life and the local community who have rallied around the family.
In a moving message, he told them: “Tragedy can only be healed with love.”
She added: ‘We would like to thank everyone involved on Thursday, our community went above and beyond to help our Kye.
‘We will never forget the love and kindness that has surrounded us since then.
“Words cannot express the sincere gratitude we have for all the dedicated medical and emergency professionals.”
The devastated family of a murdered young surfer who was stabbed multiple times in an early morning attack on a popular New South Wales beach have broken their silence. (Kye Schaefer is pictured with his sister Mimi)
Kye Schaefer (pictured) was fatally stabbed in the neck and chest after leaving the surf at Park Beach on Ocean Parade in Coffs Harbor last Thursday.
In the online update, Ms. Schaefer encouraged those struggling to overcome the trauma of the murder to seek support.
“We would also like to ask that if you are feeling angry and frustrated, you reach out to your family, a partner or a community service for support,” she said.
On Tuesday, police revealed they had stepped up the search for Schaefer’s killer and were eager to find a man seen riding a bicycle near the scene.
Homicide detectives have created Strike Force Kooringaroo to find the killer.
“While the investigation continues, strike force detectives are appealing to identify a man who was riding a bicycle in the area at the time of the incident,” a spokesperson said.
“Detectives are also appealing for witnesses or anyone who may have dash cam footage in the vicinity of the Coffs Harbor Surf Club and Orlando Street area at the time of the incident.”
A local man who was sleeping rough in the car park on the morning of the attack said he saw Schaefer slumped on the ground next to his car before emergency services arrived.
“I put on my joggers to go for a run and I saw it. “It looked like he was sitting on the floor, against the driver’s door,” the man told 7News.
A local man who had been sleeping rough in the car park on the morning of the attack said he saw Mr Schafer slumped on the ground next to his car before emergency services arrived.
Kye Schaefer had a “heart of gold,” his uncle said (Kye is pictured with partner Dakota Warner)
“All I could see were his legs in his wetsuit. It looked like he was sitting there and I couldn’t see much of him except his legs.
“Then I came back from jogging and there were police officers who wouldn’t let me enter the parking lot. There were all these police officers everywhere.
The man said they had seen Mr. Schaefer arrive at the beach early every morning for the past week.
The revelations come as Schaefer’s family mourns the sudden and tragic loss of the young man with a “heart of gold.”
In the days following his death, a GoFundMe appeal was launched asking for donations towards funeral costs and to help the family through their grief.
The fundraiser has raised more than $22,000 of its $10,000 goal.
His uncle, Ralph, told 2GB radio that his nephew had a “kind and caring nature.”
“He was a lovely young man,” she told Ben Fordham on Friday.
“He definitely had a mischievous side. He loved to laugh, but most of all he had a heart of gold.
Cowper MP Pat Conaghan wrote on social media after the attack that more needed to be done to stop violent knife crime.
“My thoughts this afternoon are with the family and friends of the young man stabbed to death on one of the beautiful beaches in our region,” he said.
“Since I have two children, I can only imagine what you are going through.”
New South Wales Police told Daily Mail Australia that investigations are ongoing.
“Police are pursuing several lines of inquiry as part of the investigation,” a spokesperson added.
“This includes searches carried out by police divers and other specialist units.”
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