UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR MISSING BOY – THE ENTRANCE, #CENTRALCOAST
7:57PM, Tuesday 5th November
The coordinated multi-agency search for a missing child swept into the ocean on Sunday on the Central Coast has been suspended.
About 5.15pm on Sunday (3 November 2024), emergency services responded to reports a child had been swept into the ocean while attempting to cross The Entrance Channel.
Officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District have been told a 43-year-old man was crossing channel with his four boys – aged 11, nine, seven and three – when the eldest child was swept into the ocean by the current.
While bystanders looked after the other three children, the man tried to reach the boy but was unsuccessful.
An extensive multi-agency search for the missing boy was conducted that night and continued during daylight hours yesterday (Monday 4 November 2024) and today (Tuesday 5 November 2024).
The coordinated multi-agency marine search was suspended at 4pm today; however, Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Marine Rescue NSW, Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW, will continue regular patrols of the area over the coming days.
Anyone with information, or who might see anything that can assist police, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
11:30AM 5 November 2024 – update: Additional Marine Rescue NSW crews tasked to assist search for missing child at The Entrance
More assets and volunteers from Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes and Lake Macquarie have been tasked to assist day three of the multi-agency search for a missing child at The Entrance.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Courtney Greenslade said vessels and crews from Marine Rescue Norah Head and Terrigal resumed the search at 8am today.
“Norah Head 20 and Terrigal 30 are conducting an offshore parallel line search with a NSW Water Police vessel while three more Marine Rescue NSW assets are being added to the search,” she said.
Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes vessel TL 20 and rescue watercraft (jet skis) have been tasked to search waters on Tuggerah Lake.
Inspector Greenslade said TL 20 has just been deployed while two Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie rescue watercraft (RWC) and their operators will be on water shortly after departing the Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie Pelican base at 11am.
“TL 20 and the RWCs will focus on areas in Tuggerah Lake as directed by NSW Police Marine Area Command,” Inspector Greenslade said.
4:00PM 4 November 2024 – update: Marine Rescue NSW crews stood down for the day at The Entrance
Five Marine Rescue NSW vessels and volunteers from the Terrigal, Norah Head, Tuggerah Lakes and Central Coast units assisted today’s multi-agency search for a missing child at The Entrance before being stood down for the day this afternoon.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said two rescue watercraft (jet skis) from Marine Rescue Central Coast joined the search just before 12pm while Marine Rescue Tuggerah Lakes vessel TL 20 also resumed searching inland waters earlier this afternoon after searching for two hours last night.
“Marine Rescue NSW vessels Terrigal 30 and Norah Head 20 were both on water from 8am.
“The rescue watercraft from Marine Rescue Central Coast, TL 20 and Norah Head 20 returned to their respective bases just before 4pm.
“Terrigal 30 continued searching south along the coast to Wamberal Point before returning to Terrigal Haven at 4:30pm.
“Marine Rescue Terrigal 30 and Norah Head 20 have been requested by NSW Police Marine Area Command to continue the search at 8am tomorrow morning (Tuesday 5 November),” Inspector Raymond said.
9:00AM 4 November 2024
Volunteer crews from Marine Rescue Terrigal and Norah Head have this morning resumed the multi-agency search for a child, believed to have swept into the sea at The Entrance early last night.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said Marine Rescue NSW has two vessels on-water assisting the search today.
“Marine Rescue NSW vessels Terrigal 30 and Norah Head 20 resumed the search off The Entrance at 8am.
“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 metre swell and winds gusting at just over 30 km/h,” Inspector Raymond said.
Marine Rescue NSW crews from Norah Head and Tuggerah Lakes spent two hours searching last night before being stood down for the evening.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
