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.
Chris Hemsworth, 41, was spotted helping police on Wednesday as the desperate search for missing Queensland officer Jay Notaro, 45, enters its fourth day
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.
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 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.
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.
Detective Inspector Notaro was last seen on Tuesday when he disappeared while surfing at Hemsworth’s local break at Broken Head near Byron Bay
Search crews discovered Insp Notaro’s surfboard on a beach 500m away.
The lack of damage to the board, and the benign conditions of the surf made his disappearance all the more perplexing.
‘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.’
Insp Notaro quickly rose through the ranks as a homicide investigator after first joining Queensland police in Townsville in 2003.
Insp Notaro was instrumental in solving major cases including the bikie-linked slaying of Gold Coast victim Greg Dufty.
He received a ‘compassion in policing’ award by the Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group for support he offered Mr Dufty’s partner and family.
It has now been revealed the police officer was part of an inner circle of surfing mates which included Hemsworth, reported The Courier Mail on Friday
The top cop then served in roles including officer in charge of the Gold Coast water police and Coomera police station.
Insp Notaro was recently transferred to Ipswich after being promoted to Inspector.
A squadron of emergency services made up of Queensland Police, water police, the Queensland Polair and surf lifesavers has taken part in the search efforts.
‘The search will focus on the areas between Lennox Head and Cape Byron, particularly the Broken Head area,’ a NSW police spokeswoman said.
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.
‘Jay is one of the most competent and capable coppers I know, who has a great future in the police,’ Mr Leavers told the Courier Mail
‘He is a future leader of the police, especially in the higher ranks. I just hope he is found safely and we have a really good outcome.
‘He is not only a friend, he is one of the future leaders of the organisation. I’m praying, he’s just a champion.
‘If we had more coppers like that we would be a better organisation.’
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.