The search for a boy who was swept into the sea at a popular beach will resume on Monday morning after it was suspended due to a lack of light.
Emergency services were rushed to The Entry on the New South Wales Central Coast at around 5.15pm on Sunday after reports an 11-year-old boy was seen struggling in difficult conditions and never returned to the coast.
Officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving launched an urgent search and rescue operation by land, air and sea.
Several emergency services vehicles lined up on Marine Parade as the major search operation got underway.
Two rescue helicopters also searched exhaustively for the missing boy as his grieving loved ones looked on until the search was finally called off for the night.
A major search and rescue for an 11-year-old boy will resume on Monday morning after he was swept out to sea. Rescue helicopters appear in the photo.
The search and rescue is a joint operation between officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving, as well as Toll and Westpac Rescue helicopters (pictured search in progress).
A man is seen being comforted on Marine Parade, The Entry (pictured)
A loved one wearing a black hoodie was seen sitting on the trail with his head down while another man comforted him.
The 11-year-old’s family are understood to be extremely shocked by the incident and speak little English.
The search will resume Monday at 8 a.m.