Chris Hemsworth was spotted helping police on Wednesday as the desperate search for missing Queensland officer Jay Notaro enters its fourth day. Detective Inspector Notaro, 45, was last seen on Tuesday when he disappeared while surfing at Hemsworth’s local break at Broken Head near Byron Bay.
It has now been revealed the police officer was part of an inner circle of surfing mates which included Hemsworth, 41, reported The Courier Mail on Friday.
The Hollywood star was seen speaking with police in the parking lot of Broken Head Reserve just 9km south of his hometown Byron Bay. He was surrounded by five officers and two police cars and was seen gesturing as he answered their questions.
Friends of Insp Notaro said he frequented Broken Head and often drove down from his Gold Coast home to surf with Hemsworth and former pro surfer Luke Munro.
At the time of his disappearance, he was reportedly staying in the Byron Bay area for several days ahead of his 45th ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐กday last Monday. Hemsworth, Munro, and their families were on a ski holiday in Japan while Insp Notaro was in the area, having just returned to Australia the day he disappeared.
Insp Notaro was reportedly due to attend a ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐กday 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. A water, land, and aerial search for the detective continued in far northern NSW on Wednesday, a day after he failed to report for duty at Ipswich Police Station, QLD.
The search has now entered its fourth day. Officers found his car and keys in a car park at Broken Head on Byron Bay’s southern fringe earlier this week.
Cross-Border Commissioner and former Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers remains hopeful that Insp Notaro will be found alive. The pair have known each other for many years.
Queensland Police earlier confirmed an officer was reported missing Tuesday afternoon. ‘Officers and the member’s family are concerned for their welfare due to the disappearance being considered out of character,’ a spokesman said.
‘Anyone with information that may be able to assist with the whereabouts of the member is asked to contact police.’
Colleagues were rocked by news of Insp Notaro’s disappearance. ‘Everyone is a bit shocked and hoping for the best,’ a senior officer said.