Cape Bridgewater: Inside the final moments before two teenagers plunged into a popular blowhole and were swept out to sea – as the desperate search continues for one of the boys who didn't return

A desperate search is on for a teenager who was one of two boys who fell into a blowhole. Details emerge about what caused the slip.

Missing boy Lauchlon Humphries, 14, lay on rocks at Cape Bridgewater, near Portland, 365km southwest of Melbourne, on Tuesday with a school friend aged 15.

The boys, who live in the area, were both wearing wetsuits when a large wave came through and knocked them both into the sea.

The older boy, whose name is not given, was able to hold on to a rock and make his way to shore, but he lost sight of Lauchlon, who disappeared into the water.

“Those two boys were washed into the ocean, the 15-year-old boy made it safely to shore,” Victoria Police Inspector Steve Thompson told police. Herald Sun.

“Unfortunately, it appears the 14-year-old boy did not make it back to shore and since then we have been facilitating a search with partner agencies to locate him.

“I think a big wave caught them unknowingly and swept them off the rocks into the ocean.”

A police AirWing circled the search area, which extends 10 km along the coast and 2 km into the sea, on Wednesday.

Police and SES boats and jet skis also joined the desperate search for Lauchlon, whose distraught family had been at the scene since first light.

Inspector Thompson admitted that hopes of finding Lauchlon alive faded as more time passed since he went missing.

He said they haven't given up hope of finding him alive, but “it's clear that as time goes on, realistically we're going to become more and more concerned.”

However, the officer said it is still a search and rescue operation.

The weather was not good for the searchers on Wednesday, as the wind picked up and blew strongly from the east and southeast.

There was also a rising swell, with little sign of conditions improving.

The 15-year-old was taken to Portland District Health Hospital with upper and lower body injuries on Tuesday evening.

His condition was reported to be stable.

Local man Doug Yuill, who has been surfing in the area for 50 years, said the rock pools are often a dangerous place to visit, and at least three other people have had to be rescued there in the past 20 years.

He said it can be a very dangerous place if people “go off the path and the swell is high.”

Mr Yuill said conditions could change very quickly, from very calm to “almighty waves” in 20 to 30 minutes.

“The power of it would have been enormous, we just really feel for them,” he said.

Lauchlon's friends expressed their sadness on social media on Wednesday.

“Get home safe Lauchlon, I miss you bro,” Konnar Johnstone wrote, while Mia Roberts said, “I love you Lauchlon, get home safe.”

Another friend, Owen Anderson, said: “I love you my brother, always forever. I love you.'

Parks Victoria warned those planning to visit the blowholes near Portland to be aware of slippery rocks, unstable cliffs and strong ocean currents in and around the natural attraction.

A user of travel website Tripadvisor said there are often strong winds at the blowholes and warned visitors to be wary when approaching the cliff's edge.

“It can be very windy so make sure you have good footing and surroundings as I saw some people getting very close to the edge for 'the perfect photo' without regard to the windy conditions,” wrote she.

The campsite has a 400-metre gravel path where you can view the rock formations.

Cape Bridgewater is known for its beautiful beaches and coastline, which is popular with both locals and a steady stream of tourists.

The blowholes are known for expelling large jets of water, often causing large waves to crash into the enormous rock formations.