Luca Bennett: Rescuers lose hope of finding 15-year-old boy swept off rocks at North Avoca Beach alive
Rescuers have lost hope of finding a teenage boy who was swept off rocks at a popular NSW beach alive, as the search mission for the 15-year-old boy shifts a recovery mission.
Luca Bennett went missing around 3pm AEDT on Christmas Eve off North Avoca Beach on the NSW Central Coast.
Search efforts on Christmas Day involving police, NSW Ambulance, Surf Life Saving NSW, Central Coast Council Lifeguards and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter failed to find the young man.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.NSW police say following expert advice from 6am on Thursday “the operation will move into a recovery phase with resources being scaled back”.
Luca, a Central Coast local and student at Sydney’s prestigious Scots College, was one of three 15-year-old boys swept from rocks and into the sea when they were hit by a wave.
Two of the boys scrambled back onto the rocks, before raising the alarm to lifeguards.
Lifeguards and emergency services, including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter searched the coast for Luca until nightfall on Tuesday before resuming the search at 5.45 am on Christmas Day.
Brisbane Water Police District Inspector Ben Campbell described the incident as a “tragic” reminder to be water-safe this festive period.
“It’s a very tragic incident, I feel for the family at this time of year,” he told reporters
“It is a timely reminder of how dangerous the rocks can be around the ocean and how everyone has to be really careful.”
Mr Campbell said Luca’s family were “very upset” and “dealing with what they can”.
Tributes are flowing for the missing teen, who was a promising young sports star and represented NSW in under-age basketball.
A group of friends met at North Avoca Surf Club on Christmas Day to pay tribute to their friend, walking to the rocks where he was last seen, the Daily Telegraph reports.
“I miss you so much, you’re my brother FR (for real),” one wrote on Instagram.
“Had I known last week would be the last time I see you I would’ve embraced you!
My brother, I will see you again. I love you, I’ll always be here for your family, no matter what. Rest in Paradise.”
“Rest easy Luca, gone way too soon. Your energy will live on,” another user commented.
“Rest in peace my guy, we will miss you.”
— with AAP
