Fishing trip turns to tragedy for Aussie family as boy is swept out to sea: Urgent search continues

An ill-advised crossing of the channel resulted in a boy being thrown into the ocean, leaving his family distraught and sparking a desperate search by land and sea.

The 11-year-old boy was walking with his three siblings and father at The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast when tragedy struck about 5pm on Sunday.

The family was visiting from Sydney and fishing in the area when they are believed to have taken a shortcut across a canal between an estuary and the ocean before the boy was swept away as the tide receded.

“A lot of people try to cross that canal but it’s not recommended,” Inspector David Piddington told reporters on Monday.

While two bystanders tended to the other three children, the father tried to reach the boy but was unable to, police said.

An extensive land, air and sea search for the boy resumed at around 8am, involving local police, surf lifesavers, water police and rescue helicopters.

The search area extends approximately 15 km south to Avoca.

Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said volunteers on two vessels resumed the search for parallel lines on Monday, led by police, amid the bumpy offshore conditions.

The search and rescue is a joint operation between officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving, as well as Toll and Westpac Rescue helicopters (search photo).

A man was comforted in Marine Parade, The Entrance (pictured)

Efforts to find the boy Sunday evening were called off as darkness fell.

Inspector Piddington said the boy’s family were very distraught.

Police liaison officers and family members assisted with translation and support.

“We will help them as much as we can in the future,” said Insp. Piddington.

The entrance is located at the mouth of Tuggerah Lake and is a popular weekend and holiday destination, approximately 100 km north of Sydney.