Family distraught while search for boy continues

Emergency services, NSW Water Police, Marine Rescue NSW and surf lifesavers were on the water again on the morning of November 4, assisting in the search for a missing young boy at The Entrance.

The 11-year-old boy was swept out to sea while trying to cross the channel at The Entrance on Sunday afternoon, November 3.

A family of five had experienced trouble while crossing the waterway and the boy was reported missing just before 5.30pm.

Emergency services leapt into action with extensive sea and aerial searches until operations had to be called off when it became too dark to see, and unfortunately the boy had not been found.

The search resumed in the early hours of Monday with a significant number of Surf Life Saving resources, including a jet ski, an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB), a drone, duty officers and multiple volunteer lifesavers.

Volunteer crews from Marine Rescue Terrigal and Norah Head joined the multi-agency search for the child.

“Marine Rescue NSW vessels Terrigal 30 and Norah Head 20 resumed the search off The Entrance at 8am,” Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said.

“Both Marine Rescue NSW vessels are conducting a parallel line search from The Entrance to Pelican Point under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command.

“Conditions are lumpy offshore with a 1.5, swell and winds gusting at just over 30 km/h.

“Marine Rescue NSW crews from Norah Head and Tuggerah Lakes spent two hours searching last night (Sunday) before being stood down for the evening,” Inspector Raymond said.