Fears grow for missing swimmer last seen entering the water on Boxing Day after a spate of drownings in NSW

A major search and rescue mission is underway for a young man who was last seen going for a swim at a popular beach over two days ago. 

Taewoo Kim, 21, was last seen entering the water at Moonee Beach, near Coffs Harbour, on the NSW Mid North Coast around 1pm on Thursday. 

Emergency services were called to the beach at 9.30pm on Friday after Mr Kim failed to return to his accommodation. 

Police found several items located at the beach, which are understood to belong to Mr Kim. 

Officers along with crews from the Marine Area Command, SES, Surf Life Saving and Marine Rescue NSW began to search for the 21-year-old late on Friday night. 

The search was called off due to bad light and commenced again on Saturday. 

Mr Kim is described as being of Asian appearance and has a slim build. He is around 175cm tall and has black hair and brown eyes. 

It comes after a man was pulled from a beach on the NSW South Coast on Saturday after his body was spotted floating in the water at 11.20am. 

Taewoo Kim, 21, (pictured) was last seen around 1pm on Thursday after he failed to return to his accomodation on the NSW Mid North Coast

Mr Kim was last seen entering the water at Moonee Beach (pictured), near Coffs Harbour, on Thursday afternoon

Mr Kim was last seen entering the water at Moonee Beach (pictured), near Coffs Harbour, on Thursday afternoon

Emergency services were called to the scene, but the man was later declared deceased. 

The man is yet to be formally identified. 

Police are investigating the incident, which is not believed to be suspicious. 

On Thursday, a 52-year-old man drowned at the nearby South Bombo Beach. 

The man was swimming in the water with an 18-year-old male relative when the pair got caught in the surf around 5pm. 

Bystanders rushed to pull both men from the water before locals and later paramedics gave the older man CPR.

The man could not be saved and he was pronounced dead at the scene. 

There have been 20 coastal drowning deaths across NSW since July 1, 2024. 

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