Police issue urgent appeal for information after surfer Kye Schaefer, 21, stabbed to death in Coffs Harbor

Kye Schaefer, 21, was understood to have been walking along Ocean Parade near Park Beach still in his wetsuit when he was attacked before 7am on May 2.

He was found by paramedics with multiple stab wounds to his chest and neck and was rushed to Coffs Harbor Base Hospital, where he later died.

Police and SES crews began scouring the area for clues that could assist them in their investigation, returning to the crime scene the following day to conduct searches of the waterfront around Coffs Harbor beach.

Homicide detectives are now appealing for witnesses who may have been in the vicinity of the Coffs Harbor Surf Club and the Orlando Street area at the time of the incident.

Anyone who may have dashcam footage of the relevant area last Thursday is being urged to come forward.

Authorities are also looking to identify a man riding a bicycle in the area at the time.

“As the investigation continues, strike force detectives are appealing to identify a man riding a bicycle in the area at the time of the incident,” NSW Police said in a statement.

The investigation is now being handled by the NSW Crime Command’s Homicide Squad under Strike Force Kooringaroo.

According to the Daily Telegraph, detectives are “pursuing several lines of inquiry” into the death of Mr. Schaefer.

Tributes from distraught friends and family members have poured in for the 21-year-old in the days following the horrific incident.

Last Friday, Mr Schaefer’s uncle, known only as Ralph, told 2GB the young surfer’s family was “broken”.

“The cycle of life… people pass, sometimes its old age, sometimes it’s a terrible accident… for our family right now, it’s just a senseless murder,” he said.

Mimi Schaefer, understood to be the sister of Mr. Schaefer, recently wrote a message of thanks on a GoFundMe page set up to provide support to his family in the wake of his tragic death.

“We would like to thank all involved on Thursday, our community went above and beyond to help our Kye,” she said.

“We will never forget the love and kindness we have been surrounded in since. Words cannot express the heartfelt gratitude we have for all the dedicated emergency and medical professionals.

“We thank the Police for all that they are doing to help us make sense of a senseless situation and their efforts to help us maintain our privacy while we get our heads around this.”