Tragic twist in the hunt for the body of Scots College student swept out to sea on Christmas Eve

The search for a missing teenage boy who ended up in the ocean on Christmas Eve has ended in tragedy.

The body of 15-year-old Luca Bennett has been found after an agonizing five-day search.

“Emergency services were called to North Avoca beach at around 12pm today following reports that a body had been found in the water,” a police spokesman said.

“An operation is underway to recover the body, believed to be that of the missing boy.”

For two days, rescuers had searched frantically for the teenager, but on Thursday it was announced that the search had shifted to a recovery operation.

Luca had been playing with friends at North Avoca Rocks on NSW’s Central Coast on Christmas Eve when the group were washed into the water.

The Scots College student, a promising basketball player, failed to resurface while two of his friends managed to reach safety and raise the alarm.

In a statement posted to social media on Friday, Luca’s mother Michelle Bennett announced that her “beautiful Luca J has been found.”

Emergency services rushed to the beach on Tuesday afternoon and two helicopters searched the water near a rock plateau at the north end of the beach

‘Dolphins have been circling the rocks of Nth Avoca since 5am this morning. The ocean lifted him onto the rocks,” Ms. Bennett wrote.

‘The amazing team from our surf clubs, police, rescue services and paramedics are collecting him for us.

“We can never begin to explain our immense gratitude to them and our entire family, friends and community. We love you.’

The search involved officers attached to the Brisbane Water Police District, along with assistance from the Marine Area Command, NSW Ambulance, Surf Life Saving NSW, Central Coast Council Lifeguards and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Luca played under-16 basketball for the Norths Bears in Sydney and was also part of Basketball NSW’s High-Performance Program.

A GoFundMe fundraiser set up on behalf of the Bennett family has raised more than $80,000 in less than 24 hours, surpassing its $50,000 goal.

Emergency services arrived on the scene after the incident on Tuesday afternoon and two helicopters searched the water near a rock plateau at the northern end of the beach.

The search resumed on Christmas morning, with rescue boats, jet skis and drones searching the area.

District Inspector Benjamin Campbell said on Wednesday: ‘It is a very tragic incident and I sympathize with the family at this time of year.

‘It’s just a timely reminder of how dangerous the rocks around the ocean can be and how everyone needs to be very careful about what happens around them.

‘I have spoken [the family]. They are obviously very upset at the moment and are doing what they can.”

Tributes poured in for the promising basketball player who was a popular student at his elite private school in Sydney’s affluent east.

“RIP bro, you’re way too young to let this happen,” a friend shared on Instagram.

“I’ve had some of the best and funniest memories with you. you were a great man. I love you mate.”

‘Rest in peace Luca, gone far too soon. Your energy will live on,” wrote another.

A third said: ‘Rest in peace man, we will miss you.’

The desperate search prompted a warning from Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce, who urged Australians to be weary in the waters this festive season.

“We want everyone to return to their families and to do that, we ask you to think before taking risks,” he said.

“We’re seeing all these major incidents happening now that are devastating for a lot of families at this time of year.”

In a separate incident, a woman drowned on a beach on the NSW south coast on Saturday morning, despite the frantic efforts of a teenage surf lifesaver to help her.

The 66-year-old woman was pulled unconscious from the surf at Werri Beach near Gerringong, about 130 kilometers south of Sydney.

The area of ​​Werri Beach where the woman was swimming was not patrolled, but Surf Life Saving NSW said a 13-year-old member of the club pulled the woman from the water.