Search enters third day for 11-year-old boy swept out to sea on NSW Central Coast
A family trip turned to tragedy on Sunday, with an 11-year-old boy swept into the ocean trying to cross a notoriously dangerous channel. A search for the boy has hit its third day.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The desperate search for a missing 11-year-old boy from Sydney has entered its third day after a family fishing trip to The Central Coast turned to tragedy.
A coordinated land, air, and sea search kicked off just after 8am, with police divers having recovered the picnic chair he was carrying as he tried to cross a dangerous channel.
More details have emerged about the incident, including that the boy was following his dad, 43, and three younger brothers — aged nine, seven, and three — across the channel when he was swept away by the fast-moving outgoing tide on Sunday afternoon.
It is believed the missing boy was carrying the chair on his back while he tried to cross the channel.
Tuggerah Lakes Inspector David Piddington said the family from Sydney, had been fishing at North Entrance and may have been crossing the channel, which was a popular “short cut” to get back to The Entrance side, where there is a large car park, at the time.
Bystanders reported seeing the father assisting his youngest child, aged three, across the channel with the eldest following behind.
Insp Piddington said it was not known if the eldest boy could swim.
The boy’s mother hadn't joined the trip, and has rushed up from Sydney this morning as the search continues, being comforted by friends and family.
Two bystanders cared for the man’s three younger children as he tried in vain to reach his eldest son.
“Until dark yesterday the boy could not be found and the search unfortunately had to be concluded because of loss of light,” Insp Piddington said.
“This morning again at 8am a co-ordinated search has been undertaken. We have aerial assets, we have marine assets and Surf Life Saving assets and that will continue throughout the day with our priority trying to locate the boy.
“The understanding at this stage was the family were here fishing and they were attempting to cross the channel when they were swept into the ocean from the channel.”
The incident happened shortly after the bottom of low tide, when the water rushing out of Tuggerah Lake, through the channel and out to sea is at its strongest.
Just two hours earlier the scene looked like the height of summer, with hundreds of people enjoying the warm weather, blue skies and clear water.
Dozens of families, day-trippers and locals were fishing, playing in the sandy shallows of the channel and floating along with the current as hatchlings from the nearby Little Tern breeding reserve were darting around on tiny legs.
The channel then was mostly knee-deep at most as it rushed over the rocks at the mouth of the ocean. Knee-deep, but deceptively strong.
Insp Piddington said NSW Police had a specialist family liaison officer on the scene assisting the family who were also supported by extended family who had travelled up from Sydney.
He said some extended family members could speak English and had been translating in Arabic.
“The family are very distraught and as I said they are being very well supported by our family liaison officer, chaplains and we will assist them as much as we can,” Insp Piddington said
SLSCC CEO Michael Hyslop said the search was being conducted as far south as Avoca.
The Entrance was patrolled by volunteer lifesavers until 5pm yesterday when the flags came down.
Tragically the boy was taken by the current 15 to 20 minutes later.
“Unfortunately it’s flags down at five o'clock so this incident occurred outside our patrol time,” he said.
Lifesavers from North Entrance, The Entrance and Toowoon Bay were recalled after their patrols to assist in the search effort late on Sunday.
“Obviously conditions aren’t terrible today making it a little easier to conduct the search,” he said.
“I would say the channel is definitely a hotspot for us, it’s something we patrol with more intensity than other areas.”
Two helicopters and several rescue boats scoured the area near The Entrance, with the Marine Area Command, Surf Life Saving, and Toll and Westpac Rescue Helicopters co-ordinating land, air, and sea efforts.
Teams also released dye into the water to track the current in an attempt to trace the boy’s possible location.
“A significant number of Surf Life Saving resources, including a jet ski, an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB), a drone, duty officers and multiple volunteer lifesavers resumed the search this morning,” SLSNSW said in a statement.
The Entrance Channel has been described as one of the most dangerous locations on The Central Coast and a “black spot” in terms of swimming.
The shifting tides send deceptively strong currents from the Lakes out to sea, with signs warning against swimming across the channel.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
Do you know more? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@dailytelegraph.com.au
More Coverage
Originally published as Search enters third day for 11-year-old boy swept out to sea on NSW Central Coast
Cops receive ‘critical evidence’ video after nurse’s home raided
Five days after two nurses went viral over comments threatening to kill Israeli patients, police have finally confirmed they are in possession of the clip they needed.
Read more
Crisis guru joins Karen Webb’s media team
Who is Police Commissioner Karen Webb’s new media chief? Why are MPs moaning about the new parliament house canteen menu? And what’s causing unrest among Coalition MPs? The Sauce is here.
Read more