Search suspended for ‘beloved’ 11-year-boy swept off Central Coast beach

A multi-agency search for an 11-year-old boy swept out to sea at a notorious Central Coast beach has been suspended, hours after his family said they remained hopeful their “beloved boy” would be found.

Laith Alaid was crossing the channel at The Entrance beach with his father, 43, and three younger brothers, aged nine, seven and three, when he was washed off its northern side about 5.15pm on Sunday, sparking a large-scale land, air and sea search.

Laith Alaid was swept off a notorious Central Coast beach while on a fishing trip with family.

Rescuers searched for Alaid on Sunday night and during daylight hours on Monday and Tuesday, before calling off the search at 4pm.

Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW will continue regular patrols of the area during the coming days.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the boy’s family said it was “deeply moved” by the community support it had received.

“We remain hopeful, and we ask the community to stay vigilant for anything that might assist in the search,” the family said.

Laith’s traumatised father clutches onto one of his other children after unsuccessful attempts to rescue his eldest son.Credit: Seven News

“Thank you to all the volunteers, emergency services and members of the Central Coast community who have selflessly dedicated their time and resources to search efforts.”

The family asked for privacy as it focused on “finding our beloved boy”.

Witnesses said Laith’s father had tried desperately to save his son, who disappeared in minutes.

“We noticed a little boy in the waves with his arm up and the next minute, the boy was gone. We just couldn’t see him,” Sarah Bailey told Nine News on Monday.

“The poor dad just was hysterical and threw himself on the ground, screaming out, and one of the older boys came to him and they both just collapsed to the ground and were crying.”

Low tide at the beach, which lifeguards consider to be one of the Central Coast’s black spots, was just before 5pm on Sunday.

Authorities, including police divers, have extended the search as far south as Avoca. The search was paused just before 5pm on Monday and resumed on Tuesday.

Inspector David Piddington on Monday said the family, who had recently moved to Granville in Sydney’s west from Iraq, were visiting the Central Coast and had been fishing before the incident.

The tragedy has sparked debate about the need for foreign languages on warning signs at The Entrance.

Surf Life Saving Central Coast chief executive Michael Hyslop said strong currents and outgoing tides made the area dangerous for swimmers.

“It’s one of our black spots on the Central Coast,” he said. “It’s a big no-swim zone for us. It’s a very dangerous spot.”

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