Queensland Police have found the body of jockey Chris Caserta, after the 26-year-old went missing during a late-night swim on the Gold Coast.
Caserta and trackwork rider Amy Graham went for a swim at Surfer's Paradise at around 10pm on Wednesday night, but he did not return from the water.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Graham was helped to shore by onlookers, but Caserta could not be located.
Emergency services began looking for Caserta at around 2am, with helicopters and jetskis involved.
Queensland Police broke the news on Thursday afternoon that it was no longer a search and rescue mission, with news coming through from the Victorian Jockeys' Association on Friday morning that Caserta's body had since been found.
“It is with great sadness the VJA can confirm the family have advised that police have found the body of Chris Caserta,” the statement read.
Sadly the body of 26-year-old Chris Caserta has been located in waters off Main Beach. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) December 3, 2021
More info here: https://t.co/aJGpzoZlVS pic.twitter.com/k3dLhY7fRX
Victorian Jockeys Association CEO Matthew Hyland confirmed to @AAPNewswire that Queensland police have told Chris Caserta's family that his body has been found.
— Callum Godde (@calgodde) December 3, 2021
The 26yo Vic jockey went missing after going for a swim at Surfers Paradise on Wednesday night.
Tragic.
Caserta's former manager, Jason Petch, appeared on SEN Radio on Thursday morning and paid tribute to the late jockey.
"It's rocked everyone," he said.
"I can't believe we're sitting here talking about him in the past tense. A young kid who had his life in front of him at the age of 26. It's devastating, what can you say?
"He was a very talented kid, a very good horseman, and he really enjoyed being a jockey.
""He made his mistakes along the way, but he made good on it and was just starting to really make a fist of things up in Queensland."
I’m really sad to hear of the passing of Chris Caserta. Having fought back from serious injuries a few years ago in Victoria, he was making a name for himself in Queensland racing. A really popular young bloke. Condolences to his family & the @JockeysAssoc @JockeysTrust community
— Martin Pakula 💉💉 (@MartinPakulaMP) December 1, 2021
Horrible news out of Qld this morning on Chris Caserta. Remember doing a story with him before his first group one a couple of years ago at home with mum and dad. Thinking of them this morning. Chris had a great energy and was a friend to many in the racing industry 💔
— Caty Price (@caty_price) December 1, 2021
"What a character he was. What a fantastic person he was."
— Racing.com (@Racing) December 2, 2021
Our thoughts are with Chris Caserta's family and friends. ❤
More - https://t.co/lNOkw9pwdr pic.twitter.com/4Nx1rCJEg5
Caserta began his riding career in Victoria but moved to Queensland in recent years.
Graham was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital and is in a stable condition.
Sporting News offer our sincere condolences to Caserta's family, friends and the entire racing industry in the wake of this devastating news.
