A missing surfer has been found alive after being swept out to sea and spending the night stranded on a remote island off NSW.

Darcy Deefholts, 19, went for a surf at One Tree in Wooli on the state’s north coast about 4pm on Wednesday.

His parents raised the alarm when the teenager did not come home.

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Police launched a marine rescue off Wooli Beach, with PolAir and local police also combing areas from Bare Point to Pebbly Beach.

The search was suspended on Wednesday night due to poor visibility, prompting pleas from Darcy’s parents to continue the search.

“Help, I need boats, beach walkers, drones, 4WDs and planes at first light,” Darcy’s father, Terry Deefholts, wrote.

“My boy Darcy is still missing ... of course we are fearing the worst.

“We are overwhelmed by the community efforts in the search so far. There is only one thing we want now, our beloved boy to be found safe.

“I am asking anyone with a seaworthy vessel to please meet me at the main Wooli boat ramp and take me to sea to help with the search.”

Search and rescue operations resumed at 8am on Thursday and only an hour later rescuers found Darcy marooned on the remote and uninhabited north Solitary Island, about 12km offshore from where he had been surfing.

His father told The Daily Telegraph that “could not fathom” how his son survived the 12km crossing out to sea and was eager to speak with him.

“I haven’t had the chance to talk to him yet, I’m just so over the moon,” he told the publication.

“I’m still just processing everything. We’ve had no sleep, and it has been a lot to deal with.”