Police say they have high fears for a teenager who was swept out to sea off the Victorian coast this week, with the mission now entering the 'search and recovery' phase.
Lauchlon Humphries, 14, and a 15-year-old friend were on rocks at Cape Bridgewater, about 370 kilometers west of Melbourne, on Tuesday when a wave pulled them into the water.
The 15-year-old managed to get to safety, but Lauchlon is still missing.
After the 15-year-old raised the alarm, Victorian Police, Life Saving Victoria and the Coast Guard rushed to the scene on Tuesday evening.
Lauchlon has not been found and the search will enter its fifth day on Saturday.
Lauchlon Humphries, 14, is missing after being swept off cliffs at Cape Bridgewater, near Portland. Image: supplied.
As part of the search, the Victorian Police air unit searched the Cape Bridgewater coastline and surrounding area on Saturday afternoon.
“Unfortunately, due to the passage of time since the incident and the extreme conditions in the area, police have serious concerns for the boy's welfare,” a Victorian Police spokesperson said.
'Officers have been in constant contact with the family regarding the search, which has now moved from an active search to a search and recovery phase.'
Parks Victoria is warning those planning to visit the blowholes near Portland of strong currents, slippery rocks and unstable cliffs.
Emergency services and volunteers on site. Image: NCA NewsWire.
A helicopter is searching the coastline as the mission now enters a 'search and recovery phase'. Image: NCA NewsWire.
The campsite has a 400-metre gravel path to view the rock formations. Many visitors describe conditions as windy.
“It can be very windy so make sure you stand and get your bearings as I saw some people getting very close to the edge for 'the perfect photo' without considering the windy conditions,” one person wrote in a TripAdvisor review.
'There was a lot of spray created by the constant crashing of the waves against the cliff and the rocks below. It was scary at times because the waves swelled high due to the extreme wind and intermittent rain that fell,” said another.