The Christmas Day seek for a lacking teenager who was swept into the ocean on the NSW Central Coast has continued for a second day.
Luca Bennett was considered one of three boys swept off the rocks by a wave at 2.40pm at North Avoca Seaside on Christmas Eve.
NSW Police Inspector Ben Campbell mentioned two of the boys managed to make it again to shore and raised the alarm with lifeguards who instantly began to seek for the 15-year-old.
They had been unable to seek out him and known as emergency providers at about 3.10pm.
“In consequence, police sources and different emergency sources have been activated,” Campbell mentioned.
“The search was performed till darkness. We’ve not been capable of finding anybody at this stage.”
Campbell mentioned the circumstances had been robust for lifeguards, with a powerful wind and tough swell hindering efforts.
“Situations are nonetheless very tough round there,” he mentioned.
The search was scaled down at darkish yesterday however resumed at about 5.45am on Christmas Day, involving Brisbane Water Police District, with the help of the Marine Space Command, NSW Ambulance, Surf Life Saving NSW and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
The incident sparked a warning from Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce, who urged Australians to watch out within the water this Christmas.
“We would like everybody to return to their households and to do this we plead with you to please assume earlier than you are taking dangers,” he mentioned.
“We’re already seeing these main incidents come by means of that are devastating for a lot of households right now of yr.”
Campbell confirmed the boy’s household had been contacted.
“It is a very tragic incident,” he mentioned.
“It is a well timed reminder of how harmful the rocks might be across the ocean.”
A hazardous surf warning was in place for yesterday and immediately in components of NSW, together with the Central Coast.
Since July 1, there have been 17 recorded coastal drownings.
