A young teenager who went missing off the coast of North Avoca on Christmas Eve has been identified as Luca Bennet, a student at The Scots College.
The 15-year-old was playing with friends at North Avoca Rocks on the New South Wales Central Coast on Christmas Eve when the group was swept into the water.
Emergency services were called to Avoca Beach after it failed to surface, prompting two helicopters to be launched to explore the waters near a rock platform at the northern end of the beach.
Police confirmed on Wednesday that three 15-year-old boys were swept into the sea from a rock platform at around 2.40pm on Tuesday. Two children returned to the rocks and raised the alarm with the lifeguards, but Bennett had not been found.
“At this time, we have been unable to locate the 15-year-old boy,” District Inspector Benjamin Campbell said Wednesday.
‘This is a very tragic incident and I feel for 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 there.
‘I have spoken to (the family). They’re obviously very upset right now and are doing what they can.’
North Avoca local Jason Hicks told the Sydney Morning Herald he witnessed attempts to rescue the boy minutes after the group was swept off the rocks.
The young teenager who disappeared off the coast of North Avoca on Christmas Eve has been identified as Luca Bennet, a student at The Scots College.
Tributes to Luca poured in on Christmas Day as friends began to fear the worst.
‘The kids who managed to get out were visibly upset, as were a couple of surfers. And there was a guy who tried to jump in and rescue (the boy) and he was visibly out of it,” Hicks said.
Tributes are flowing online for the promising young basketball player who was a popular student and top basketball player at his elite private school in Sydney’s wealthy east.
‘RIP brother, you’re too young for this to happen. I have had some of the best and most fun memories with you. you were a great man. I love you friend,’ a friend shared on Instagram.
‘Rest easy Luca, he left too soon. Your energy will live on,” wrote another.
A third said: “Rest in peace lad, you will be missed.”
Marine Rescue NSW inspector Steve Raymond said a volunteer search team was assembled and a rescue boat was deployed shortly after 4.30pm.
“Terrigal 30 rendezvoused with a NSW Water Police vessel off The Skillion and are now conducting search patterns under the direction of NSW Police Marine Area Command,” he said.
However, Inspector Raymond warned that the waters were rough and had waves of 2.5 to 3 meters, which made search efforts difficult.
On Christmas morning the search for the missing Luca resumed
The search, which included staff from NSW Police, a NSW Ambulance, local surf lifeguards and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (pictured), scoured the water where he was last seen .
Luca Bennet is a popular student and a top basketball player.
Surf LifeSaving NSW has also joined the search effort, using jet skis and drones to cover as much water as possible.
On Tuesday, New South Wales Police told Daily Mail Australia the search would be postponed overnight.
“The search will continue until dark,” a spokesman said.
‘If nothing is found, the search will resume tomorrow, water police resources will remain until 10:00 p.m.
The search will resume at 6:30 am tomorrow, assuming there are no finds tonight.
Sunset is expected in the area around 8:05 p.m.
The desperate search prompted a warning from Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce, who urged Australians to be weary in the waters this holiday season.
“We want everyone to return to their families and to achieve this we are asking you to think before taking risks,” he said, Nine News reported.
“We are already seeing these serious incidents occur that are devastating for many families at this time of year.”
They resumed their search this morning; However, we have not been able to locate the child.