The family of missing Queensland officer Jay Notaro have said they are ‘heartbroken’ as a days-long search has been called off.
Detective Inspector Notaro, 45, was last seen on Tuesday when he disappeared while surfing at Broken Head near Byron Bay in northeastern New South Wales.
NSW Police announced on Friday afternoon that the search had been suspended but taskings by local police and marine area command will continue.
‘The family is of course naturally devastated. This hole in our lives will never be filled,’ Mr Notaro’s father said in a statement seen by Sky News.
‘We are heart broken. Such a tragic accident.’
He said the conditions have been ‘horrendous’ and thanked NSW and Queensland police, as well as supportive family and friends, for a ‘remarkable response’.
‘It’s been truly humbling and heart warming. But we fully understand that they had to call it,’ he said.
‘The search was intensive. Now we wait for Mother Nature to decide if she will return him to us.’
Detective Inspector Jay Notaro (pictured) was last seen on Tuesday when he disappeared while surfing at Broken Head near Byron Bay
Insp Notaro’s sister Hayley also posted a tribute via a photo of the beloved officer holding his niece on his shoulder, Sky reported.
‘The best uncle in the world,’ she wrote.
The search for Insp Notaro was launched at Broken Head between Lennox Head and Cape Byron about 12.40pm on Tuesday by Tweed and Byron Police.
A squadron of emergency services made up of Queensland Police, water police, the Queensland Polair and surf lifesavers have taken part in search efforts.
Actor Chris Hemsworth was also spotted helping police on Wednesday as the desperate search entered its fourth day.
It was revealed that the police officer was part of an inner circle of surfing mates which included Hemsworth, 41, according to The Courier Mail.
Insp Notaro quickly rose through the ranks as a homicide investigator after first joining Queensland police in Townsville in 2003.
He was instrumental in solving major cases including the bikie-linked slaying of Gold Coast victim Greg Dufty.
The search was focusing on the areas between Lennox Head and Cape Byron both in the ocean and on the land
Detective Inspector Jay Notaro (pictured) was instrumental in solving major cases including the bikie-linked slaying of Gold Coast victim Greg Dufty
The cop received a ‘compassion in policing’ award by the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group for support he offered Mr Dufty’s partner and family.
The top cop then served in roles including officer in charge of the Gold Coast water police and Coomera police station.
Insp Notaro recently transferred to Ipswich after being promoted to Inspector.
At the time of his disappearance, he was reportedly staying in the Byron Bay area for several days ahead of his 45th birthday last Monday.
Insp Notaro was reportedly due to attend a birthday celebration dinner on Tuesday night with his friends but pulled out with complaints he was feeling unwell.
He was then last spotted via CCTV pulling into the Broken Head car park at around dawn on Tuesday.
It comes after the surfboard of Insp Notaro washed up on a beach undamaged 24 hours after he went missing.
The lack of damage to the board, and the benign conditions of the surf made his disappearance all the more perplexing.
Actor Chris Hemsworth (pictured) was spotted helping police on Wednesday as the desperate search entered its fourth day
‘The condition of that surfboard was unremarkable – there was no damage and the leg rope was fully intact,’ NSW Detective Inspector Matt Zimmer said.
‘The inspector is a very strong swimmer who is a previous officer in charge of the Queensland water police… and the condition that presented over the past few days were quite calm.
‘He would be extremely capable of managing those conditions due to his experience, [he was] an extremely fit man as well.’
Police have thanked those who volunteered in the search for Insp Notaro and the local community for their support.
