A FAMILY is distraught after a young boy was swept out to sea while crossing a channel with his father and younger brothers on the Central Coast last night.
A major multi-agency search from the sea and sky resumed this morning after the alarm was first raised with emergency services just before 5.30pm on Sunday.
Tuggerah Lakes police Inspector David Piddington told reporters on Monday the family was visiting The Entrance from Sydney when tragedy struck.
"The understanding is, at this stage, the family were here fishing and they were attempting to cross the channel when the boy was swept into the ocean," he said.
Police have been told a 43-year-old man was crossing the channel from the north side with his four boys, aged between three and 11, when the eldest was taken by the current.
Two bystanders looked after the other children while the man tried to reach the 11-year-old boy, but he couldn't be saved.
Marine police, Surf Life Saving crews on jet skis and the Toll and Westpac rescue helicopters were called in to carry out a land, sea and sky search, but the boy had not been found by dark.
The channel is notorious among locals.
"Lots of people try, and do, cross that channel, it is not advised though," Inspector Piddington said.
Emergency services again swarmed The Entrance from about 8am on Monday when the search resumed, backed by police divers.
"The priority is trying to locate the boy," Inspector Piddington said.
"The family are very distraught."
The family was being supported by specialist police liaison officers, a chaplain and relatives who had travelled up from Sydney and were helping with translation.
Marine Rescue NSW boats were on Monday conducting line searches from The Entrance to Pelican Point in "lumpy" conditions with a 1.5-metre swell and wind gusts of more than 30 kilometres per hour.
Police, including divers, were searching, the chopper was called back and Surf Life Saving resources like jet skis and drones were deployed.
The search area extends as far south as Avoca.
- Anyone with information about this incident has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
