Fears for Kiwi missing in Queensland

Queensland police fear the worst for a young New Zealander, missing since Monday after an early swim on a Gold Coast beach, as emergency services begin a third day of searching.

Richard Doyle, 19, told his family he was going for a "quick swim" about 7am on Monday before walking to Northcliffe Beach, at Surfers Paradise. The regular life-saving patrol began at 7.30am.

His family searched the beach when he had not returned three hours later. They raised the alarm after they found his clothes, towel and wallet left on the sand.

Water police, council lifeguards and surf lifesavers resumed their search today at 6am (8am NZT) after an air and sea search – involving lifeguards, a helicopter, light plane and water police – began on Monday.

Two water police vessels, two police jet skis and the police dive unit will also continue to search the immediate area in front of Northcliffe.

Senior Constable Bruce Kolkka, of Gold Coast water police, said choppy, cloudy water had hampered the search for Mr Doyle, from Queenstown, who suffers epilepsy.

Everything pointed to the young man being in the water, he said. "Leaving his clothes on the beach, leaving his wallet on the beach."

Mr Doyle's family remained hopeful Mr Doyle would be found alive.

"His dad is positive still. He is still hopeful that there will be a good outcome to this. But the longer it goes, it's probably not good news."

Mr Doyle was believed to be a poor swimmer, with limited experience in surf.

No-one in the many high-rise buildings lining the beach had reported seeing anything unusual, Mr Kolkka said.

The family were being supported by police, a Gold Coast police spokeswoman said.

Mr Doyle went missing three days after a Brisbane youth, Heath Whalan, 17, who also had epilepsy, drowned on the Gold Coast on New Year's Day. He was swimming with his mother in Tallebudgera Creek when he disappeared.

- with AAP

- © Fairfax NZ News