Fears are growing for a missing teenager as rescue teams continue a search effort more than a day after he was swept off a rock shelf at a New South Wales beach on Christmas Eve.
Jetskis and helicopters were deployed in the area around North Avoca beach as part of the search that included Surf Life Saving NSW, ambulances, police, and local surf life-savers, after two friends of the 15-year-old – having managed to swim to shore after being swept by the same wave – alerted authorities shortly after 3pm on Tuesday.
On Tuesday evening, emergency services, including police and surf life savers, searched for about five-and-a-half hours before darkness fell, with efforts resuming on Christmas Day.
Helicopters have been circling the area, while police and surf life-saver crews are on the water.
About 20 volunteer surf rescue workers, four council lifeguards and a diver are involved in the search.
NSW police hold grave fears for the Central Coast teenager.
“His two friends raised the alarm with nearby lifeguards ... but they have been unable to rescue the boy,” Inspector Benjamin Campbell of Brisbane Water police district said on Wednesday.
“It’s a very tragic incident and I feel for the family at this time of year.”
“It’s just a timely reminder of how dangerous the rocks can be around the ocean and how everyone has to be really careful,” Campbell said.
Marine Rescue inspector Steve Raymond said conditions offshore were choppy with 2.5-metre to 3-metre swell.
The Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive, Steve Pearce, issued a statement urging people to think twice before taking risks near water after several major incidents on Tuesday.
Jason Hicks, a North Avoca resident, told the Sydney Morning Herald the boys who were swimming with the missing teenager as well as surfers nearby “were visibly upset”.
“There was one guy who tried to jump in and rescue [him] and he was visibly beside himself,” he said.
“It just happened so quick I think, but all the services were here in a matter of minutes. It was just incredible how fast they responded, and all the surf life-savers were unbelievable jumping in and trying to find him,” Hicks told the SMH.
As the search resumed on Wednesday, a hazardous surf warning was issued for the Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, the Hunter and Sydney.
“Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming in the following areas,” the Bureau of Meteorology warned.
With Australian Associated Press
