Search and rescue for teenager missing off Granite Island

A search will resume this morning for a 16-year-old Adelaide boy who has gone missing after he was swept out to sea in a Father’s Day tragedy off Granite Island.

The scene of Granite Island as rescue choppers look for a missing teenager who has fallen from rocks. Picture: Gary Juleff

A teenage boy is missing, feared drowned, after being swept out to sea in a Father’s Day tragedy at one of South Australia’s most popular tourist destinations.

A major search and rescue operation was launched on Sunday afternoon and is set to resume on Monday morning after the 16-year-old from Blair Athol disappeared in waters off Granite Island at Victor Harbor, 83km south of Adelaide.

Witnesses told how the teenager, who has not been identified, was “swept out by a wave” and was last seen floating face down in the choppy waters.

Despite an extensive air, sea and ground search, authorities found no trace of the boy, who is believed to have been visiting the popular tourist destination with family on Father’s Day.

The boy’s family and friends were too distressed to speak as police comforted the group.

A woman, believed to be his mother, was seen crying and shouting, witnesses said.

People watch as emergency services search for a 16yo boy who was seen floating in seas on the southern side of Granite Island at Victor Harbor. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Police talk to people as emergency services search for a 17yo boy who was seen floating in seas on the southern side of Granite Island at Victor Harbor. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The drama unfolded just after 3.15pm as the boy and his family explored the island, which has reopened after a multimillion-dollar upgrade.

A police spokesman said the boy “went missing in the water”. He is feared to have drowned.

He said police co-ordinated a large-scale search and rescue which included PolAir helicopter, local surf lifesaving as well as search and rescue.

He said the teen had not been located when the search was abandoned at 6.30pm.

The island was shut while the search occurred as heavy winds battered the coastline.

Police confirmed an extensive search would resume in the morning.

Superintendent Joanne Howard, the officer-in-charge of Hills Fleurieu Local Service Area, said on Sunday: “We will continue to search with the assistance of local emergency services and other resources tomorrow.”

State Emergency Service crews have been asked to prepare to help in the search.

The incident unfolded as an SA man, 24, drowned in Victoria.

The man, who has not been identified, was pulled from waters off the Rye pier, on the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday.

He died at the scene despite desperate efforts to revive him.

Victoria Police will prepare a report for the coroner.