The search for an 11-year-old boy swept to sea by a treacherous current on the New South Wales Central Coast has entered its third day.
A 43-year-old father and his four boys – aged 11, nine, seven and three – had been visiting the coastal suburb The Entrance for a fishing trip. Police believe they attempted to take a shortcut between an estuary and the ocean on Sunday when the eldest was swept into the ocean as the tide went out.
Beachgoers looked after the three youngest children while the father tried to reach his 11-year-old son around 5.15pm, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
An extensive rescue effort on land, air and sea was launched on Sunday night and resumed on Monday, involving marine area command, Surf Life Saving and rescue helicopters – alongside local emergency services and police.
The search was due to resume around 8am on Tuesday after it was paused at 4pm on Monday. Police divers found a picnic chair the boy had been carrying but did not find any sign of him.
On Tuesday morning police said there had been no developments overnight.
Signage near The Entrance beach surf club warns people not to cross the channel – but it is used by some as a shortcut between two beaches.
Central Coast life saving duty officer Glenn Clarke said when the tide was running out to sea “the stretch is treacherous” and measures about 10 metres across.
“It’s dangerous to the point where once people are off their feet, you can imagine that outgoing tide is very, very forceful. Very strong,” he said. “An Olympic swimmer couldn’t swim against it, so what hope has a mere human got?”