Suspected human remains of missing schoolie Astin Gerstl found on beach

Suspected human remains of missing schoolie Astin Gerstl have been found on the same NSW beach where he went missing.

The 18-year-old, who was celebrating schoolies with mates, got into trouble in the water at Little Bay Beach in Arakoon about 4.20pm on Sunday.

Police, Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW searched the area for several days but were unable to find him.

Police were called to the same beach about 7.30am on Friday following reports suspected human remains had been found by a member of the public.

“The remains have been taken for forensic examination,” a police spokesman said.

“A report will be prepared for the coroner.”

Mr Gerstl was celebrating the end of the HSC exams with school friends when he went missing from the Mid North Coast beach.

He was a student King’s School in Parramatta, one of Sydney’s most prestigious private schools, and had just graduated Year 12 when he went missing.

A marine search for Mr Grestl was suspended earlier in the week as extreme conditions hampered search efforts.