AUSTRALIA • Matthew APPLEBY, 16 (deceased)~ New South Wales

Fears were growing for a teenage boy missing from the NSW Central Coast since Monday. Matthew Appleby, 16, was last seen as he dropped his younger brother off at a primary school at Terrigal about 8.30am (AEDT) on Monday. Matthew was then supposed to walk to his nearby high school at Terrigal, but he never arrived, police said.



When last seen, he was wearing a Terrigal High School uniform of grey pants, white collared shirt with school emblem, navy blue jacket and black shoes. Matthew does not carry a mobile phone and is not believed to have any money. Police and Matthew's family were seriously concerned about his safety, saying his disappearance was totally out of character. Anyone with information on Matthew's whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A BACKPACK belonging to a missing NSW teenager has been found on a beach almost 4km from where he was last seen. The find has intensified fears about the high school student's whereabouts.Matthew Appleby, 16, disappeared from Terrigal, on the NSW central coast, on Monday after dropping off his six-year-old brother at a local public school.His school backpack, containing text books and a school shirt, was found the following day between Avoca and North Avoca Beach, about a 45-minute walk from Terrigal, but the discovery was not reported to police until Tuesday night.Matthew's father, James Appleby, told The Australian yesterday that the disappearance was out of character. He said he hoped his son was nearby, perhaps just having some time alone, and that he would return home soon."We are mystified, but I'm just relieved today that we haven't heard any bad news, because there is a big search on," Mr Appleby said."I would just plea for anyone who might have seen Matthew to contact us or the police."Police and emergency service volunteers will today scour bushland at the Kincumba Mountain Reserve, a place where Matthew likes to walk and which is located about 10km west of his Terrigal home.About 20 police officers, including members of the trail bike squad and mounted police, spent Wednesday and Thursday conducting land, sea and air searches between Matthew's home and where his backpack was found.Mr Appleby, his wife, Suzanne, and their two other sons, aged 13 and six, stayed at their Terrigal home, hoping Matthew would walk through the door.Mr Appleby said Matthew, who is in Year 11 at Terrigal High School, was a conscientious student and he didn't feel that his son was under any pressure from his class-work. "He has always done fairly well at school, and he produced good marks this year, getting in the top three and four of many subjects -- chemistry, physics," Mr Appleby said.Matthew also plays rugby for the Terrigal Trojans and is a keen swimmer and bushwalker.Police have talked to Matthew's friends and school mates but they were equally perplexed about his disappearance.Inspector Katherine Hawkins of Gosford police said that despite "exhaustive searches" and inquiries there was nothing to indicate Matthew's disappearance was suspicious.

Search for missing teen called off
From: AAP October 22, 2010 7:06PM THE official search for missing NSW Central Coast teenager Matthew Appleby has been called off.

The hunt for the 17-year-old had been suspended this evening and would not resume, police said.

Matthew has been missing from Terrigal since Monday.

Searches by emergency service crews focused on North Avoca and Avoca Beach today.

They were originally due to scour the Kincumba Mountain nature reserve area but changed their plans after scattered pieces of the teenager's clothing were found on the beach.

"Some items of clothing were found at Avoca beach, scattered over a bit of a distance and as such that, with the original finding of his school backpack, led us to return to this area and focus our search around here," Chief Inspector Steve Campbell told reporters in Avoca today.



The teenager's school bag was found on Avoca beach earlier.

The search party had included officers from the marine area command and police airwing, as well as surf lifesavers and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers.

Matthew was last seen as he dropped his younger brother off at a primary school at Terrigal at about 8.30am (AEDT) on Monday.

He was then supposed to walk to his nearby high school at Terrigal, but he never arrived, police say.

When last seen, Matthew was wearing his Terrigal High School uniform of grey pants, white collared shirt with school emblem, navy blue jacket and black shoes.

Matthew does not carry a mobile phone and is not believed to have any money.

Despite the search being called off, police inquiries are continuing.

Inspector Campbell appealed to Matthew or anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

"Please contact us on the number for Crime Stoppers or contact at least your family and let them know you're safe and well," he said.


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/search-for-missing-teen-called-off

Distraught family members of missing central coast teenager Matthew Appleby are still clinging to the hope that he may be found alive. Matthew, pictured, was last seen on Monday morning walking his youngest brother, Nathan, to Terrigal Primary School. The 17-year-old was supposed to continue on to Terrigal High School but never made it. A day later, his school bag was discovered at Avoca Beach - minus his drink bottle and lunch box. As police searched for clues, they unraveled a secret life in which Matthew regularly skipped classes and ventured on all-day hikes across the central coast area. Family members conducting their own search discovered the teenager's shoes beside the ocean at Avoca Beach. Police abandoned their search later that day.
Matthew's father, James, said yesterday there was little the family could now do, except wait. "We'd like to do something, anything, but until the police perhaps find something new in terms of information, or Matthew turns up safe and well, we're stuck," he said.

The search for a 17-year-old schoolboy who vanished 10 days ago will resume this morning after police received new information on the case. Matthew Appleby was last seen dropping his younger brother at a local primary school on the NSW Central Coast on the morning of October 18. He was then expected to walk to nearby Terrigal High School but never arrived. A police spokeswoman would not say what new information had been received. "Information came to hand in the time between the suspension of the original search and now that has led us to this area," a spokeswoman said.NSW Police and SES volunteers will scour the area around Kincumber Mountain — a 700ha reserve located about 91km north of Sydney — from 9am (AEDT) today. A search was due to take place in the area on Friday before new information led police to Avoca Beach, where several of Matthew's belongings were found. Thursday's search, weather permitting, will involve Polair, trail bikes, and council rangers.Matthew was last seen wearing his school uniform of grey pants, white collared shirt, navy jacket and black shoes.Matthew's family said his disappearance was totally out of character. Anyone with information is urged to immediately call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

SEARCHERS have scoured dense bushland on the NSW Central Coast for signs of schoolboy Matthew Appleby who has been missing for 10 days. The search for 17-year-old Matthew resumed today around Kincumber Mountain with police officers and dozens of State Emergency Service volunteers involved.Police were acting on new leads, including unconfirmed sightings of Matthew about the area."There has been information relating to likenesses but no confirmed sightings," Inspector Katherine Hawkins told journalists at Kincumber Mountain.The search is expected to continue on Friday.Matthew was last seen dropping his younger brother at a local primary school in Terrigal on the morning of October 18.He was then expected to walk to nearby Terrigal High School but never arrived.Last week, there were extensive ground, water and air searches around Avoca Beach which uncovered a few personal belongings, including a bag and shoes.Matthew was last seen wearing his school uniform of grey pants, white collared shirt, navy jacket and black shoes.Matthew's family has said his disappearance was totally out of character.Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

THE father of missing Central Coast teenager, Matthew Appleby, will today make an appeal to the media to help find his son. Matthew, 17, was last seen as he dropped his younger brother at a primary school in the Terrigal area at 8.30am on Monday, October 18.He was then expected to walk to nearby Terrigal High School but never arrived.
Police and family hold fears for Matthew’s safety and say his disappearance is totally out of character. Meanwhile, the search for Matthew continues today on the Central Coast. Last week, there were extensive ground, water and air searches around Avoca Beach which uncovered a few personal belongings, including a bag and shoes. The search resumed on Thursday around Kincumba Mountain with police officers and dozens of State Emergency Service volunteers.Police were acting on new leads, including unconfirmed sightings of Matthew about the area. "There has been information relating to likenesses but no confirmed sightings," Inspector Katherine Hawkins told journalists at Kincumba Mountain. Matthew was last seen wearing his school uniform: grey pants, white collared shirt, navy jacket and black shoes. His family has said his disappearance was out of character. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The father of a missing New South Wales teenager has appealed to his son to contact him.It has been 11 days since Matthew Appleby, 16, has been seen.He dropped his younger brother at school in Terrigal, on the central coast, and then disappeared.His backpack and shoes were found on Avoca Beach several days later but have provided no clues to his whereabouts.His father, James Appleby, made an emotional plea to his son at the Gosford police station this afternoon."Please pick up the phone... give us a call. Give someone a call, give a friend a call, just let us know you're OK," he said."We miss you so much."Matthew's family says his disappearance is totally out of character.Police yesterday extended their search to an area at Kincumber Mountain and are now looking at a plan to search the steep drop-offs in the area. Police say they are following up 80 pieces of information about Matthew, including two unconfirmed sightings of the high school student.

A body has washed up on a central coast beach with police now investigating if it is that of missing Terrigal High School student Matthew Appleby.

A member of the public found the body on Forresters Beach just before 4pm today. Police said they were yet to identify the body although it appeared it had been in the the water for some time.

Matthew, 17, was last seen in Terrigal on October 18 and was reported missing after he failed to attend school.

An extensive search by police located his shoes and backpack at Avoca Beach.

Forresters Beach is just north of Terrigal.

After abandoning their search on October 15, police with the assistance of park rangers and State Emergency Service volunteers scoured Kincumba Mountain Reserve last Thursday.

It followed unconfirmed sightings of the teen by members of the public and new information that he liked to visit the area.

That search found no trace of the 17-year-old.

His father, James Appleby, made a public appeal last Friday for his son to contact them saying he believed he was still alive.


Body identified as missing Central Coast student, Matthew Appleby

THE body of a male found on a Central Coast beach yesterday (Monday) afternoon has been identified as missing teenager Matthew Appleby.
Matthew, aged 16, was last seen as he dropped his younger brother at a local primary school on the Central Coast at 8:30am on Monday, October 18.

Posting Date: 01-11-2010



Body identified as missing Central Coast student, Matthew Appleby

THE body of a male found on a Central Coast beach yesterday (Monday) afternoon has been identified as missing teenager Matthew Appleby.
Matthew, aged 16, was last seen as he dropped his younger brother at a local primary school on the Central Coast at 8:30am on Monday, October 18.
Extensive searches were carried out for Matthew throughout the Central Coast, including at local beaches and Kincumba Mountain, but were unsuccessful.
Shortly before 4pm yesterday, the body of a male was found by a surfer at Forresters Beach.
A post mortem examination today confirmed it was Matthew, but a cause of death is yet to be determined and this is now in the hands of the New South Wales Coroner.
Some of his belongings, including his school bag and shoes were found at Avoca Beach, just south of Forresters Beach, several days after he disappeared.
Police Superintendent Geoff McKechnie says drowning was strongly suspected as the cause of Matthew’s death.
He was a relatively strong swimmer, but the surf was quite big on the day he vanished and that might have been a factor in his death.
Matthew’s body was clothed only in his undergarments when it was found.
“I think from day one we held a view that the most likely scenario was that Matthew had entered the water somewhere in the vicinity of Avoca Beach, Terrigal,” Superintendent McKechnie told journalists at Gosford police station today.
“Yesterday’s find probably bears that out.
“It’s clear the body found yesterday had been in the water for some considerable time.”
Matthew's family were with police yesterday, the day the body was found by a local surfer.
“Whilst this news is not the outcome they were looking for, they are coping with it as any family would at this stage,” says Superintendent McKechnie.
“But we are offering as much support as we can to the family.
“Also I know the department of education is working with his fellow students.”
Superintendent McKechnie says there was no evidence to suggest Matthew had any problems in his personal life.
His trip to the beach was typical of what any young lad from the area might have done, he added.
Matthews school uniform has not been recovered.
“I understand he was a strong swimmer but the surf on that day was up a little bit, conditions were a little rough,” Superintendent McKechnie says.
Police have extended thanks to the many members of the public who provided information as well as the various organisations and volunteers who assisted with the extensive searches for Matthew.
Detectives will now prepare a report for the Coroner and continue to appeal for anyone with information about Matthew’s disappearance to come forward.
They would also like to speak to anyone who spoke with or saw Matthew prior to his disappearance who has not yet spoken with police.
Calls can be made to police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

***** ADDED FOLLOW-UP on 11/2/10

It was as innocent as skipping school for a day at the beach but for the central coast teenager Matthew Appleby it ended in tragedy. Matthew, 16, was last seen on October 18 after he walked his younger brother to Terrigal Public School. His disappearance sparked speculation about trouble in his personal life and at school. But yesterday when police confirmed that a body washed up at Forresters beach on Monday was his they also removed any mystery about his disappearance. He had gone for a swim and drowned. Matthew's family was told the news yesterday after dental records were used to identify his body. His family had remained hopeful that he had run away and was hiding. Last week his father James Appleby made a public plea for his son to let them know he was alive. It had followed unconfirmed sightings of the boy around the central coast and as far north as Queensland. Yesterday Appleby family members were consoling each other at their Terrigal home.
Matthew's friends at Terrigal High will be offered counselling to help deal with the loss. Brisbane Water Police Superintendent Geoff McKechnie said though there had been speculation that Matthew had experienced trouble in his personal life or at school, there was no evidence of that, although he sometimes skipped school to go for a walk and swim. “When you look at the records I don’t think there was a huge issue there,” he said. “That was just how he was. He was a very good student, obviously an intelligent young boy and he sometimes took a day off school and went for a walk.” There was no evidence that he had talked to anyone about any bullying issues or other problems.