Update – 27 December – 3.55 pm
Body located in search for missing boy – North Avoca
NSW Police report that a body, believed to be that of a boy missing in the water off North Avoca beach, has been located today.
About 3pm on Tuesday (24 December 2024), emergency services commenced a large-scale search operation following reports a 15-year-old teenage boy was missing in the water.
The search has involved officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District, along with the assistance from the Marine Area Command, NSW Ambulance, Surf Life Saving NSW, Central Coast Council Lifeguards and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
About 12pm today (Friday 27 December 2024), emergency services were called to North Avoca beach, following reports a body had been located in the water.
An operation is ongoing to recover the body, believed to be that of the missing boy.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Update – 25 December 2024 – 2.45 pm
Volunteers from Marine Rescue NSW have been stood down for the day from the search for a missing 15-year-old boy
Under the direction of Marine Area Command, volunteers from Marine Rescue Terrigal aboard the vessel Terrigal 30 have been stood down for the day from the multi-agency search for a missing 15-year-old last seen in the water at North Avoca Beach yesterday afternoon.Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Courtney Greenslade said conditions “were good to fair, as the easterly winds have picked up slightly above forecast since just before lunch.”
“The crew on Terrigal 30 began the search at 9:00 am after spending several hours searching yesterday afternoon and were stood down for the day at 2:45pm.
“They conducted a parallel line search from North Avoca to The Skillion at Terrigal.
“The commitment displayed by our volunteers both on the water and in radio operations yesterday and today has been exceptional, with our volunteers giving up their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to continue the search.“Our crews have returned to base and are awaiting further instructions from Marine Area Command,” Inspector Greenslade said.
Update – 24 December 2024 – 8.30 pm
Marine Rescue Terrigal crew to continue search for missing 15-year-old off North Avoca Beach tomorrow
Volunteers from Marine Rescue Terrigal will be back on water Christmas morning assisting the multi-agency search for a missing teenage boy off North Avoca Beach.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said a volunteer crew on board Terrigal 30 spent two-and-a-half hours searching waters off North Avoca Beach this afternoon before being stood down for the day at 7pm.
“Marine Rescue Terrigal volunteers will continue the search at 9am tomorrow morning (25 December) on board Terrigal 30.
“Terrigal 30 will conduct search patterns in an area to be determined by NSW Police Marine Area Command,” Inspector Raymond said.
24 December 2024 6.30 pm
A volunteer crew from Marine Rescue Terrigal has been tasked to assist NSW Police Marine Area Command with a search for a missing 15-year-old boy off North Avoca Beach this afternoon (Tuesday 24 December).
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said a volunteer crew was assembled and rescue vessel Terrigal 30 was deployed just after 4:30pm.
“Terrigal 30 rendezvoused with a NSW Water Police vessel off The Skillion and is now conducting search patterns under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command.
“Conditions offshore are choppy with 2.5 metre to 3 metre swell,” Inspector Raymond said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
