A surf lifesaver came agonizingly close to saving a teenager who was swept from rocks into the ocean, but was instead left crying on the beach after a large wave thwarted the rescue effort.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal details of the heroic effort to rescue high school student Luca Bennett, 15, after he was swept into the ocean with two friends on Christmas Eve.
Luca and his mates were playing on the rocks at North Avoca Beach, on the New South Wales central coast, when a rogue wave crashed into the group. Two of his friends managed to climb to safety, but Luca could not escape the huge waves.
A rescuer who came agonizingly close to saving the Scots College scholarship student was left crying on the beach after treacherous seas thwarted his rescue effort.
“(The lifeguard) reached him, but a giant wave knocked them both over, making it impossible to drag him to safety,” Luca’s cousin Cheree Robinson told Daily Mail Australia.
“We are very grateful to him for acting so quickly.”
Another witness said: “He was sobbing on the beach after the botched rescue, it was just horrible to see.”
Volunteers refused to stop searching for Luca on jet skis long after he disappeared into the waves. Some even gave up spending time with their own families on Christmas Day.
Luca Bennett, 15, was playing at North Avoca Rocks when he was swept out to sea on Christmas Eve.
Luca’s parents received the news on Friday that they had found the body of the talented basketball player.
In a cruel twist of fate, Cheree, a local, ran to the beach to help with the search, after hearing the sound of helicopters, only to discover it was her own family member.
When he reached the beach, he saw Luca’s devastated companions comforting each other.
“I fell because of the helicopters, not knowing it was him,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I’m grateful I did because his mother hadn’t arrived yet.
“I don’t think any of us will ever recover from this.”
NSW Police confirmed last night that a body, believed to be Luca’s, had been found in the water at North Avoca around midday on Friday.
Cousin Cheree Robinson had no idea the helicopters she saw were looking for Luca.
After two days of searching, emergency services reduced their operation to a recovery effort.
However, many of the local volunteers refused to retreat and used their own boats and jet skis to continue searching.
On Christmas Day, Luca’s parents, Michelle and Jason, posted on social media: “Yesterday we lost our beloved Luca J.
“Everyone is doing their best to find him and bring him home to us. We are very grateful.
“He was the most perfect son and we can’t believe he’s real.”
Family friend Emma Power has created a GoFundMe to ease the financial burden on the family.
‘Misch and Jase, Luca’s brothers and their extended family, manage together as best they can.
“They are so grateful for the outpouring of love from our community and for the rescue teams who continue the search to bring Luca home to rest.”
Luka was close to his mother Michelle, who is coping as best she can
Luca was a talented basketball player.
Emergency services were called to the beach on Tuesday afternoon and two helicopters scoured the waters near a rock platform at the northern end of the beach.
‘Luca was a friend to many, he had a sparkle in his eyes, a boisterous and contagious laugh and his arms were always open for a hug.
‘He was a talented basketball player and always spent his time playing with younger athletes and loved playing against the older guys.
“That’s the thing about Luca, everyone loved being around him and you always left with a full heart and a smile on your face.”
Luca played under-16 basketball for the Sydney Norths Bears and was also part of the Basketball NSW High Performance Programme.
Tributes poured in for the promising basketball player who was a popular student at his elite private school in Sydney’s wealthy east.
“RIP bro, you’re too young for this to happen,” a friend shared on Instagram.
‘I’ve had some of the best and most fun memories with you. you were a great man. I love you friend.’
‘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.”
The desperate search prompted a warning from Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce, who urged Australians to take care in the waters this Christmas season.
“We want everyone to return to their families and to do so we ask you to think before taking risks,” he said.
“We are already seeing these large incidents that are devastating for many families at this time of year.”
In a separate incident, a woman drowned on a beach on the New South Wales south coast on Saturday morning, despite the frantic efforts of a teenage surf lifesaver to help her.