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Norah Head: Body found after massive search for missing swimmer off NSW Central Coast

Amy Lee
The Nightly
Soldiers Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
Soldiers Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Credit: Google Maps

A body has been recovered following a major search operation for a man swept out to sea off the NSW Central Coast.

Emergency services were called to Norah Head around 8.15pm on Sunday after reports that four friends were standing on a sand bar near Soldiers Beach Surf Life Saving Club when it suddenly collapsed.

Two people in the group, a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man, managed to make it back to shore. Two others, both aged 18, were dragged into deeper water.

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Two surfers rushed to help and were able to rescue one of the men, bringing him safely to shore. The fourth man, however, was swept out to sea.

Police launched an extensive search involving offers from the Tuggerah Lakes Police District, the Westpac Rescue helicopter, Marine Area Command and Marine Rescue NSW.

Despite the combined effort, the search was suspended at 11.30pm after failing to locate the missing swimmer, with patrols continuing along the foreshore overnight.

The operation resumed at 7am on Monday, deploying the same resources.

Around 10.45am, police divers located a body in the water.

“While a formal identification process is yet to be completed, the body is believed to be that of the missing swimmer,” NSW Police said in a statement.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

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