The search for a teenage boy who was swept off a cliff and into the sea at a popular beach has entered its second day.
Emergency services were called to North Avoca Beach, on the NSW central coast, about 3.10pm on Tuesday following reports of a missing 15-year-old boy.
The boy was standing on a rock shelf with a group of his friends when they were dragged into the water, but he did not surface.
His friends raised the alarm that he was missing, prompting two helicopters to be launched to search the water near the rock shelf.
NSW Police, along with NSW Ambulance, local surf lifesavers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, launched an extensive search for the boy.
Volunteers from Terrigal Marine Rescue assisted police in their search and described water conditions as ‘choppy’ with swells of 8 to 10 feet, complicating the search effort.
Search and rescue teams were unable to locate the boy and the search was called off after 7 p.m.
At 6am on Wednesday, local surf lifesavers along with marine rescue services, water police and the Surf Life Saving NSW drone team will resume the search.
The search for a missing 15-year-old boy has entered its second day after he was swept off a rock ledge at North Avoca Beach
The search, which involved NSW Police personnel, NSW Ambulance, local surf lifesavers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (pictured), searched the water where he was last seen.
The Westpac rescue helicopter will also resume the search for the boy at 9am on Wednesday.
A hazardous surf warning was introduced for parts of the NSW coast, including the Central Coast region, on Wednesday.
Beachgoers celebrating Christmas are urged to remain alert and exercise caution when entering the water.
Central Coast councilor Jared Wright has urged beachgoers to stay away from the search area so emergency services can continue their search.
Mr Wright also encouraged beachgoers celebrating Christmas to stay alert and use caution when entering the water.
“Our thoughts remain with the young man and his family,” Wright wrote in a post shared on Facebook.
“Thank you to everyone in the community for their support. As always, the Central Coast community has come together during a difficult time.”
“This is a reminder for everyone to be safe in the water this summer.
It is understood the boy was standing with a group of friends on a rock ledge at the north end of the beach when they were dragged into the water.
‘Those who visit our beaches in the summer and especially during the holiday period: make sure you are safe in and around the water.
‘Don’t forget to swim between the flags, swim with a friend where you can and always let someone else know where you are going’.
More people across Australia drowned in the first three weeks of summer than in the same period in 2023, according to data from Royal Life Saving Australia.
Royal Life Saving Australia has reported 18 drowning deaths since December 1, including six in NSW.
It comes after a woman died after being pulled unconscious from the water in an area where no rescuers were present at Werri Beach in Gerringong, near Kiama, on December 21.