A Schoolies celebration on the New South Wales Mid North Coast has ended in tragedy, with an 18-year-old from a prestigious Sydney school now feared dead after being swept out to sea.
Desperate Struggle in the Water
Astin Gerstl was swimming at the remote Little Bay Beach in Arakoon on Sunday afternoon when he got into difficulty around 4:30pm. Witnesses reported seeing the teenager struggle in the water before he was dragged further out to sea. Despite attempts by those on the beach to reach him, they were unsuccessful.
The Year 12 graduate had been enjoying a one-week trip with friends to mark the end of his schooling, a traditional rite of passage known as Schoolies. Acting principal of The King's School in Sydney's west, Stephen Edwards, confirmed the missing teen was a student who had recently completed his final exams.
Prestigious School Community in Mourning
In a statement, Edwards said the school was providing support to the family and respecting their request for privacy. "As the search continues, I ask that you keep the family in your prayers and hold them in your hearts," he said.
The King's School is one of Australia's oldest and most exclusive private boarding schools, with annual tuition fees for Year 12 students reaching approximately $47,000.
Challenging Search Operation Underway
Emergency services, including police from the Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW, immediately launched a search on Sunday. The operation continued on Monday before being suspended and resuming at 8am on Tuesday. Crews planned to return to the water on Wednesday, with police divers now leading the effort as marine rescue volunteers were stood down.
The search has been hampered by the difficult terrain. Little Bay Beach is not patrolled by surf lifesavers and features rocky outcrops and cliff faces, making access and rescue operations particularly challenging. The Westpac rescue helicopter was also deployed to scan the area from above.
The community now waits for news, hoping for a miracle in this heartbreaking Schoolies tragedy.
