The search for a missing teenage boy swept into the ocean on Christmas Eve has now shifted to a recovery operation.
Luca Bennett, 15, was playing with friends at North Avoca Rocks on NSW’s Central Coast, on Christmas eve when the group was washed into the water.
Emergency services said on Thursday morning they had scaled down their operation to a recovery effort.
The Scots College student, a promising basketballer, was playing on the rocks at Avoca Beach on Tuesday afternoon when he a rogue wave swept him off the rocks.
Two of Luca’s friends managed to climb to safety, but Luca himself didn’t resurface.
Emergency services rushed to the beach and two helicopters scoured the waters near a rock shelf on the northern end of the beach.
The search resumed on Christmas morning with rescue vessels, jetskis and drones combing the area.
‘At this stage, we haven’t been able to locate the 15-year-old boy,’ District Inspector Benjamin Campbell said on Wednesday.
Luca Bennett is a popular student and top-tier basketballer
The search, which included NSW Police personnel, NSW Ambulance, local surf lifesavers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (pictured), scoured the water where he was last seen
‘It’s 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 can be around the ocean and how everyone has to be really careful about what’s going on around there.
‘I’ve spoken to [the family]. They’re obviously very upset at the moment, and they’re dealing with what they can.’
Online, tributes are flowing for the promising young basketball player who was a popular student and top-tier basketballer at his elite private school in Sydney’s well-heeled east.
‘RIP brother your way too young for this to happen. Ive had some of the best and funniest memories with you. you were great man. I love ya mate,’ one friend shared to Instagram.
‘Rest easy Luca, gone way too soon. Your energy will live on,’ another wrote.
A third said: ‘Rest in peace my guy, we will miss you.’
The desperate search sparked a warning from Surf Life Saving NSW CEO, Steve Pearce, who urged Aussies to be weary in waters this holiday season.
‘We want everyone to return to their families and to do that we plead with you to please think before you take risks,’ he said.
The search for the missing Luca resumed on Christmas morning
‘We’re already seeing these major incidents come through which are devastating for many families at this time of year.’
In a separate incident, a woman drowned at a beach on the NSW South Coast on Saturday morning, despite the frantic efforts of a teenage surf lifesaver to help her.
The 66-year-old woman was pulled from the surf unconscious at Werri Beach near Gerringong, around 130km south of Sydney.
The area of Werri Beach where the woman was swimming was not patrolled, but Surf Lifesaving NSW said that a 13-year-old member of the club pulled the woman from the water.
