Missing boy swept off rocks identified as search continues on Central Coast

A missing boy who was swept off rocks on the Central Coast on Tuesday has been identified as 15-year-old Luca Bennett.

A large-scale search for Luca resumed on Christmas Day off the popular North Avoca Beach.

The search continues for Luca Bennett, 15, after he went missing off rocks at North Avoca beach.

Police confirmed on Wednesday that three 15-year-old boys were swept into the sea from a rock shelf about 2.40pm on Tuesday. Two boys got back onto the rocks and raised the alarm with lifesavers, but Bennett had not been found.

“At this stage, we haven’t been able to locate the 15-year-old boy,” District Inspector Benjamin Campbell said on Wednesday.

“It’s a very tragic incident, and I feel for the family at this time of year. It’s just a timely reminder of how dangerous the rocks can be around the ocean and how everyone has to be really careful about what’s going on around there.

“I’ve spoken to [the family]. They’re obviously very upset at the moment, and they’re dealing with what they can.”

District Inspector Benjamin Campbell gave an update on the search on Wednesday. Credit: James Brickwood

Earlier on Wednesday, Surf Rescue duty officer Matt Slattery said the search would focus on where the boy was last seen and continue until dark.

“The surf is definitely not flat, but the training and the experience and the team, they’re more than capable of performing in these conditions,” Slattery said.

North Avoca local Jason Hicks said he witnessed attempts to rescue the boy minutes after the group was swept off the rocks.

“The boys who managed to get out were visibly upset, a couple of surfers were as well. And there was one guy who tried to jump in and rescue [the boy] and he was visibly beside himself,” Hicks said.

Rescuers at North Avoca Beach search for the missing boy on Wednesday morning.Credit: James Brickwood

“I didn’t really do anything, there was nothing to do really, it just happened so quick I think, but all the services were here in a matter of minutes. It was just incredible how fast they responded, and all the surf lifesavers were unbelievable jumping in and trying to find him.”

Hicks said this was a rare occurrence for the “very tight-knit” North Avoca community.

“I actually spoke with them [the family] this morning, because I was sort of standing down there and they’re just beside themselves. Just lovely, lovely, local people, and we’re just such a tight-knit community here, and this has never really happened, not happened for a long time. It’s just such a sad day for North Avoca.”

Jason Hicks, who lives near where the boy went missing at North Avoca.Credit: Billie Eder

NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, local surf lifesavers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service were involved in the search, which was paused after 8pm on Tuesday before continuing on Wednesday.

Local surf lifesavers, marine rescue and water police, as well as the Surf Life Saving NSW drone team began looking again for the boy at first light.

Rough conditions are making it difficult around the rock shelf, police said.

There are 20 volunteer surf rescue workers involved and four paid council lifeguards are covering the area around the rock shelf with three jetskis, while a diver is searching near the rocks.

A hazardous surf warning is in place for parts of the NSW coast, including the Central Coast.

Volunteers from Terrigal Marine Rescue helped the water police with Tuesday’s search effort and described conditions offshore as choppy with a 2.5-metre to 3-metre swell.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce urged beachgoers to take care over the festive period.

“We want everyone to return to their families and to do that we plead with you to please think before you take risks,” Pearce said, adding that lifesavers had responded to several major incidents on Christmas Eve.

Matt Slattery, centre, says the rescue team is “more than capable of performing in these conditions”.Credit: Billie Eder

“We’re already seeing these major incidents come through which are devastating for many families at this time of year.”

Pearce said 17 people had drowned on the NSW coast since July 1 this year.

“Please stop, look and stay alive,” he said.

Premier Chris Minns expressed his sympathy to Luca’s family, saying it’s “every parent’s worst nightmare to think that a child’s been lost during what’s supposed to be a happy season”. “I know that everybody’s hearts ache at the moment as a result of that.”

Central Coast councillor Jared Wright said the “thoughts of our community are with the young man and his family during this difficult time”.

“For those visiting our beaches across the summer and particularly over the holiday period, please remember to be safe in and around the water,” he said.

“Swim between the flags, swim with a friend where you can and always let someone else know where you are going.”

With Cindy Yin and Max Maddison

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