A body, believed to be that of a boy swept to sea from The Entrance Channel on Sunday, November 3, was located at about 2.30pm on Wednesday, November 6.
Water Police, Marine Rescue, surf lifesavers and helicopters conducted a solid two-day sea and aerial search for11-year-old Laith Alaid.
Tuggerah Lakes Police said a 43-year-old father was crossing the channel on Sunday with his four boys – aged 11, nine, seven and three – when the eldest child was swept into the open ocean by the channel current.
While bystanders looked after the other three children, the man tried to reach the older boy but was unsuccessful.
Local police assisted by Marine Area Command, police divers, surf lifesaving volunteers with jet skis, inflatable rescue boats and drones, Marine Rescue and the Toll and Westpac Rescue helicopters immediately initiated an extensive search but were unable to find the child.
The search continued until darkness when it was suspended on Sunday night.
It continued between 8am and 4pm on Monday, November 4, with all agencies again assisting, before resuming again at 8am on Tuesday.
Volunteer crews from Marine Rescue Terrigal and Norah Head were among the initial multi-agency search for the child.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said vessels Terrigal 30 and Norah Head 20 started their parallel line search from The Entrance to Pelican Point on Sunday afternoon under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command.
“Conditions were lumpy offshore with a 1.5m swell and winds gusting at just over 30 km/h,” Inspector Raymond said.
On Tuesday, three more vessels and volunteers from Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes and Lake Macquarie were added to the search.
Marine Rescue Terrigal and Norah Head crews continued their parallel shoreline search together with a NSW Water Police vessel, while Tuggerah Lakes vessel TL 20 and two rescue jet skis from Lake Macquarie Marine Rescue searched Tuggerah Lake.
On Tuesday, the family of Laith Alaid issued a statement saying they were deeply moved by the community support received since Laith went missing on Sunday.
They thanked emergency personnel and volunteers and requested privacy.
The co-ordinated multi-agency marine search was suspended at 4pm on Tuesday, with Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW continuing regular patrols of the area.
At about 2.30pm on Wednesday, November 6, emergency services were called to The Entrance following reports a body had been located in the water.
While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing boy.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
For updates on this story, keep an eye on our website: coastcommunitynews.com.au
What a tragic outcome for the family, friends and rescuers. Perhaps it’s time for Council to install a permanent torpedo rescue buoy at the channel. As a regular fisher and surfer there I have seen many instances where people have been in trouble on the outgoing tide. Many locals have experience in surfing and surf clubs and a torpedo buoy there would be really useful in an emergency outside regular patrol hours. This especially during daylight saving when many tourists are holidaying here.