An extensive search effort has been launched after a teenage boy was swept off of rocks and out to sea at a popular beach.
Emergency services were called to Avoca Beach, on NSW’s Central Coast, after reports a group of teenage boys had been dragged into the water about 3.10pm on Tuesday.
One boy in the group, aged 15, failed to resurface, leading to two helicopters being launched to scour the waters near a rock shelf on the northern end of the beach.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector, Steve Raymond, said a volunteer search crew was assembled and a rescue vessel was deployed just after 4:30pm.
‘Terrigal 30 rendezvoused with a NSW Water Police vessel off The Skillion and is now conducting search patterns under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command,’ he said.
However, Inspector Raymond added that the waters were choppy and had a 2.5m-3m swell, making the search effort more difficult.
Rescue helicopters have been launched in search of a teenage boy believed to have been swept out to sea from Avoca Beach on Tuesday (pictured)
NSW Police, Marine Rescue and Surf LifeSaving NSW have all joined the search effort (pictured) which is being hindered by choppy conditions with swells as large as 3m
Surf LifeSaving NSW have also joined the search effort, utilising jetskis and drones to cover as much water as possible.
NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia the search would be postponed overnight.
‘Search will continue until darkness,’ a spokesperson said.
‘If nothing found search to resume tomorrow, Water police assets will remain until 10pm.
Search to resume at 6.30am tomorrow, assuming there is no find tonight.’
Sunset is expected in the area about 8:05pm.
The desperate search sparked a warning from Surf Life Saving NSW CEO, Steve Pearce, who urged Aussies to be weary in waters this holiday season.
‘We want everyone to return to their families and to do that we plead with you to please think before you take risks,’ he said, Nine News reported.
‘We’re already seeing these major incidents come through which are devastating for many families at this time of year.’
More to come.
