Sydney Schoolies Student Lost in Treacherous Rip
A week of celebration for a group of recent school graduates has turned into a desperate search for a missing friend. An 18-year-old from Sydney has disappeared after being swept out to sea by a powerful rip on the New South Wales Mid North Coast.
The teenager, who had just completed Year 12 at The King’s School in Sydney, was on a one-week end-of-school trip with friends to the popular holiday spot of South West Rocks. The incident occurred around 4:30 pm on Sunday while he was swimming off Little Bay Beach in Arakoon.
Desperate Rescue Attempts and Suspended Search
According to Inspector Mick Aldridge, witnesses and bystanders immediately tried to reach the struggling young man as he got into difficulty. "Unfortunately he was dragged further out to sea," Inspector Aldridge confirmed, adding that alcohol was not a factor in the incident.
The teen's mother rushed to the scene, where she was joined by the families of his friends, all waiting anxiously for news. The extensive search, involving multiple emergency services, was suspended on Monday evening due to fading light and challenging conditions.
The search is scheduled to resume at 8 am on Tuesday. Rod McDonagh, President of Surf Life Saving Mid North Coast, explained the difficulties faced by rescuers. "Obviously it's pretty difficult to get in close to the coastline here. It's fairly rocky outcrops and some cliff faces, so it's pretty difficult," he said.
Unpatrolled Beach Warning Amid String of Tragedies
Authorities have emphasised that Little Bay Beach is not patrolled by surf lifesavers and is officially not recommended for swimming by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. This disappearance is the latest in a devastating series of incidents on NSW beaches in recent days:
- On Saturday, a 59-year-old man drowned at Crescent Head, less than an hour's drive away, after being caught in a rip.
- Last Thursday, 25-year-old Swiss tourist Livia Mulheim was fatally mauled by a shark while swimming at Crowdy Bay National Park, roughly two hours south of Little Bay.
- Last Monday, 18-year-old Riahne Vasquez drowned at Soldier’s Beach on the Central Coast when a sandbar collapsed beneath him.
Inspector Aldridge issued a stern warning to all beachgoers in the wake of these tragedies. "Swim at patrolled beaches. Unless you know the area, don't go in the water," he urged. The plea highlights the critical importance of choosing a safe location and respecting the power of the ocean, especially during the busy summer and Schoolies period.
