The search for a 16-year-old boy who went missing after a boating accident on a lake at Yarrawonga, on the NSW-Victorian border, has entered its second day.
Police said two 16-year-old boys were fishing from a tinny on Lake Mulwala just before 9:00am on Sunday when their boat was hit by a wave and overturned.
Witnesses on the foreshore tried to help as the boys treaded water.
"A good Samaritan has stopped to assist the two males in the water and has actually grabbed a floatation device within a resort close to that location, swam out and assisted one of those males to come back to shore," Moira Cluster station Senior Sergeant Nathan Ractliffe said.
The good Samaritan went out to assist the other male involved but he disappeared from view before he could be rescued.
Emergency services, including search and rescue officers, air wing, SES and police divers scoured the lake yesterday and have resumed search efforts today.
"The weather conditions today and the next couple of days aren't very favourable to assist police but we're doing everything we can in our capability to locate that male," Senior Sergeant Ractliffe said.
"Police are working closely with the family. It is still an ongoing missing persons case. The family has asked for some privacy."
The boat has also been seized by Victoria Police's Maritime Investigation Unit.
Mulwala Water Ski Club watersport coordinator Peter O'Neill said it was a heartbreaking situation.
"We raced to put our boat in as fast as possible and we got there as soon as possible," he said.
"We were there within about 15 minutes … but we were obviously too late."
Mr O'Neill said a number of boats rushed to help, including fishermen who were already out on the water.
Lake can be dangerous
Mr O'Neill said even small waves on the lake could be risky for small vessels.
"Where the boys had their accident it normally doesn't get very rough there, but it's not unusual for [waves] to be a foot tall there, maybe even two-foot tall on a bad day," he said.
"And it can be pretty chaotic wave patterns, with waves hitting banks and bouncing back and forth."
Mr O'Neill said there had been an outpouring of support from the community.
"In small towns people throw their weight behind each other," he said.
"It's just a tragedy."
