By Freddy Pawle and Padraig Collins For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 21:35 GMT, 20 December 2023 | Updated: 22:19 GMT, 20 December 2023

Search parties have started the third day of a desperate search for a teenage boy who disappeared after falling into a blowhole.

The missing boy Lauchlon Humphries, 14, was on the rocks at Cape Bridgewater, near Portland 365km south-west of Melbourne on Tuesday, with a school friend aged 15.

Emergency services yesterday blamed a ‘freak wave’ that washed over the boys and dragged them into the blowhole, sweeping them out to sea. 

The 15-year-old was able to swim back ashore at about 7pm that night and alert authorities that his mate was still in the ocean.

Since being notified of his disappearance both boys’ families have been joined by civilians, SES, police, Air Ambulance and Life Saving Victoria to try and find Lauchlon, and will recommence the search at 11am. 

A desperate search is for teenager Lauchlon Humphries (pictured) is entering its third day after he and another boy, 15, fell into a blowhole at around 7.30pm on Tuesday

A desperate search is for teenager Lauchlon Humphries (pictured) is entering its third day after he and another boy, 15, fell into a blowhole at around 7.30pm on Tuesday

Police revealed that while the search had been hindered by rough sea conditions over the past two days, search parties are yet to give up hope. 

A Victoria Police helicopter spent Wednesday circling the search area, stretching 10km along the coast and about 2km out to sea.

A search on the water using Boats and jet skis was also pursued by police and SES to try and find the teen whose family was seen at the site where he vanished from at first light.

Victoria Police Inspector Steve Thompson conceded on Wednesday that the hopes of finding Lauchlon alive were fading as more time passed since he went missing.

He said that they haven’t given up hope of finding him alive, but ‘obviously the more time that goes by, realistically we’re becoming more concerned.’

Lauchlon's distraught family (pictured) were seen at the site of his disappearance since first light on Wednesday and have been assisting in the search for the teenager

Lauchlon's distraught family (pictured) were seen at the site of his disappearance since first light on Wednesday and have been assisting in the search for the teenager

Lauchlon’s distraught family (pictured) were seen at the site of his disappearance since first light on Wednesday and have been assisting in the search for the teenager

Search parties, involving civilians and emergency services, have been hindered by rough sea conditions over the past two days but haven't lost hope (pictured, ambulance helicopter)

Search parties, involving civilians and emergency services, have been hindered by rough sea conditions over the past two days but haven't lost hope (pictured, ambulance helicopter)

Search parties, involving civilians and emergency services, have been hindered by rough sea conditions over the past two days but haven’t lost hope (pictured, ambulance helicopter)

Lauchlon’s friends took expressed their distress on social media on Wednesday.

‘Come home safe Lauchlon, miss you bro,’ one wrote, while a second said: ‘Love you Lauchlon, come home safe.’

Another friend said ‘love you my bro always forever I love you.’

Parks Victoria issued a warning to those planning on visiting the blowholes near Portland to be aware of slippery rocks, unstable cliffs and strong seas currents in and around the natural attraction. 

More to come. 

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Cape Bridgewater: Search for missing teenager who plunged into a blowhole enters its third day

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