Search continues for child swept out to sea in NSW
UPDATE @ December 7, 6.15am: A MAJOR search will continue this morning for a young boy feared drowned after being swept out to sea at Port Macquarie yesterday.
The 11-year-old was swimming with family in shallow waters at Lighthouse Beach around 1.30pm AEDT when police say he was swept into a rip and disappeared into the water.
The boy’s older brother was also caught in the rip but he managed to make it back to shore safely and was treated at the scene by paramedics.
A fleet of emergency service vehicles rushed to the scene, where police, lifesavers, water police and marine rescue spent the afternoon actively searching for the child, but to no avail.
A large land and air search will continue today, with a NSW police spokesperson telling 9NEWS they were “hoping for the best and fearing for the worst.”
An 11-year-old child has been washed out in a rip at Lighthouse Beach at Port Macquarie. @MarineRescueNSW volunteers responding. The rescue vessels PM 30 (pictured) PM 20 and a Rescue Water Craft have been activated. pic.twitter.com/59ntstLmk5
— Marine Rescue NSW (@MarineRescueNSW) December 6, 2017
EARLIER @ December 6, 2.30pm: A RESCUE helicopter has joined the frantic search for an 11-year-old boy feared swept out to sea at Port Macquarie.
The child was reportedly swimming with family in shallow waters at Lighthouse Beach around 1.30pm AEDT when police say he was swept into a rip and disappeared into the water. He has not been seen since.
A 17-year-old boy who was also caught in the rip managed to get himself to shore without incident, police said.
The teenager is believed to be the 11-year-old boy’s older brother.
A fleet of emergency service vehicles has since rushed to the scene, where police, lifesavers, water police and marine rescue are actively searching for the child.
Four ambulance crews are also in attendance and the NSW Ambulance and Westpac Rescue helicopters have been dispatched to assist in the search.
No further information was available at the time of writing.
Reports of a missing child at Lighthouse Beach. Police and ambulance on standby @nbnnews pic.twitter.com/kzWbMTCRlT
— Jessica Nagel (@Jess_Nagel) December 6, 2017
Emergency crews on Lighthouse Beach part of a rescue operation for a child missing in the sea @nbnnews #breaking pic.twitter.com/yPRTOxLuj6
— Jessica Nagel (@Jess_Nagel) December 6, 2017
