The search for a teenage boy who was swept off a rock and out to sea at a popular beach has entered its second day.
Emergency services were called to North Avoca Beach, on NSW’s Central Coast, at about 3.10pm on Tuesday following reports of a missing 15-year-old boy.
The boy was standing on a rock shelf with a group of his friends when they were dragged into the water, however he failed to surface.
His friends raised the alarm that he was missing, leading to two helicopters being launched to scour the waters near the rock shelf.
NSW Police, along with NSW Ambulance, local surf lifesavers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, launched an extensive search for the boy.
Volunteers from Terrigal Marine Rescue helped police in their search and described the water conditions as ‘choppy’ with 2.5metre to three-metre swells making the search effort more difficult.
The search and rescue teams were unable to locate the boy and the search was called off after 7pm.
On Wednesday at 6am, local surf lifesavers along with marine rescue, water police and the Surf Life Saving NSW drone team resumed the search.
The search for a missing 15-year-old boy has entered its second day after he was swept off a rock ledge at North Avoca Beach
The search, which included NSW Police personnel, NSW Ambulance, local surf lifesavers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (pictured), scoured the water where he was last seen
The Westpac rescue helicopter is also set to resume its search for the boy at 9am on Wednesday.
A hazardous surf warning was put in place on Wednesday for parts of the NSW coast, including the Central Coast region.
Beachgoers celebrating Christmas are being urged to stay alert and take care when entering the water.
Central Coast councillor Jared Wright has urged beachgoers to stay clear of the search area to help emergency service responders to continue their search.
Mr Wright also encouraged beachgoers celebrating Christmas to stay alert and take care when entering the water.
‘Our thoughts remain with the young man and his family,’ Mr Wright wrote in a post shared to Facebook.
‘Thank you to everyone in the community for extending their support. As always, the Central Coast community has come together during a difficult period.’
‘This is a reminder for everyone to please be safe in the water this summer.
It is understood the boy was standing on a rock ledge on the north side of the beach with a group of his friends when they were dragged into the water
‘For those visiting our beaches across the summer and particularly over the holiday period, please remember to be safe in and around the water.
‘Remember to swim between the flags, swim with a friend where you can and always let someone else know where you are going’.
More people have drowned across Australia in the first three weeks of summer than during the same period in 2023, according to Royal Life Saving Australia data.
Royal Life Saving Australia has reported 18 drowning deaths since December 1, including six in NSW.
It comes after a woman died after being pulled unconscious from the water in an area unpatrolled by lifesavers at Werri Beach in Gerringong, near Kiama, on December 21.
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