A teenager is still missing after being swept out to sea off Victoria's west coast but authorities remain upbeat he could be found alive.
The 14-year-old boy went missing in the ocean at Blowholes Road in Cape Bridgewater, 350km from Melbourne, about 7.30pm on Tuesday.
He was with a 15-year-old friend in the rock pools when the pair were hit by a large wave and swept into the ocean.
The other boy clung to a rock before he scrambled to shore, but his missing mate was washed further out.
Police conducted an extensive water search with the help from Police Air Wing, Water Police, Coast Guard, air ambulance choppers and Marine Unit boats but could not find the teen.
The search was paused overnight before resuming on Wednesday morning.
Inspector Stephen Thompson said police had not given up hope of finding the boy alive.
"Obviously the more time that goes by, realistically, we're becoming more concerned," he told reporters in Cape Bridgewater.
"But at this point in time, we're treating this as a search-and-rescue operation."
While the missing boy was wearing a wetsuit and is believed to have good swimming skills, Insp Thompson said conditions were hampering rescue efforts.
"The wind has picked up, it's blowing reasonably strongly from the east and southeast, it is a rising swell at the moment," he said.
"So unfortunately the conditions aren't getting any better."
The search area encompasses a 10km strip of arduous coastline.
"Our volunteers are hoping for a positive outcome," VICSES Barwon's Costa Chrysopoulos said.
