The parents of a 21-year-old man who was stabbed to death in his wetsuit in Coffs Harbour have pleaded with the person responsible to hand himself in.

Kye Schaefer was stabbed multiple times in a car park on the New South Wales north coast two weeks ago after he’d arrived to go surfing at the beach.

He died after being taken to the Coffs Harbour Base Hospital.

Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty has described the “savage” attack as “random and unprovoked”.

Police continue to investigate but are yet to identify the person responsible, with Schaefer’s father issuing an emotional plea for them to come forward.

“Just be honest and own up to your mistakes in life … everyone makes them,” Tony Schaefer said on Wednesday.

Kye’s mother Pam outlined the heartbreak the family had felt since her son’s death, while paying tribute to the local community for helping them through the tough times.

“No words can describe how we’re feeling, the sheer loss of our faith in humanity,” she said.

“The love and support of our family and friends have been absolutely phenomenal. That’s what’s kept us out of this black hole.”

A GoFundMe page to help pay the costs of Kye’s funeral had raised more than $26,000, from a $10,000 goal, by Wednesday morning.

“This young athlete’s life was tragically cut short,” organiser Heather Isubikalu Ngobi wrote in a tribute to the surfer.

She said Kye “lived life to the fullest”.

“He was a member of the Woolgoolga Soccer Club, and also previously the North Coast Futsal Club,” Ngobi wrote.

“He also represented our region in soccer at the rep level.

“Kye will be profoundly missed by his family, friends and members of the community.”

Schaefer called on any potential witnesses or people with information to contact police, even if they weren’t sure what they knew was important.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

-with AAP