Seek for lacking Sydney teenager stood down amid tough situations

The current string of tragic incidents on seashores throughout the NSW Mid North Coast is rising, with a search stood down till tomorrow morning for a Sydney college leaver who was swept out to sea close to South West Rocks. 

The 18-year-old, who just lately graduated from elite non-public The Kings School in Sydney’s north west, was swimming with buddies off Little Bay Beach in Arakoon at about 4.20pm on Sunday.

NSW Police confirmed the search would recommence at 8am on Tuesday morning.

Local Chief Inspector Mick Aldridge stated the younger man was on a schoolies journey with buddies to have a good time the top of HSC exams.

“Witnesses and bystanders tried to get to him, but he was dragged out to sea,” he stated.

“A member of the National Parks was also trying to get him out of the water.” 

Little Bay Beach is an unpatrolled distant seaside with President of Surf Life Saving Mid North Coast, Rod McDonagh explaining the realm is harmful to navigate. 

“The surf is quite turbulent, quite choppy. It’s very rocky round here and a lot of cliff faces,” he stated. 

Safety recommendation on the National Parks and Wildlife Service web site states that seashores within the Arakoon National Park “can have strong rip currents”.

Keith Robinson, a surfer and board shaper from close by Nambucca, stated the realm round Little Bay was deceptively harmful.

“It’s a beautiful looking place, nice big sand bar, and it’s shallow,” he stated.

“But if you venture out a little too far there’s a hell of a current ripping around the back of that wall there.” 

‘Tragic’ begin to summer season

This newest incident comes after the dying of a 59-year-old man who drowned at Racecourse Beach, close to Crescent Head on Friday.

That November 28 fatality got here solely a day after a Swiss girl died and a person was severely injured throughout a shark assault at Crowdy Bay, positioned within the south of the NSW Mid North Coast. 

“Summer has started with a bit of a tragic flurry,” CEO Surf Life Saving NSW Steven Pearce stated.

“It’s been a very difficult 48 hours for the first responders.

“It does present the risks of swimming exterior of these crimson and yellow flags the place there are not any lifesavers.”

Surf Life Saving NSW is urging people to swim at patrolled beaches where there are lifesavers on duty.

Just after dark on November 23, an 18-year-old man drowned after being swept out to sea at Soldiers Beach on the NSW Central Coast.

Riahne Louie Vasquez was standing on a sandbank in entrance of the surf membership when it collapsed, making a rip that led to his drowning.