A tragic maritime incident at one of Sydney's most famous beaches has left a man dead and a teenage boy missing, casting a shadow over the New Year period.
Search continues for missing teenager
Emergency services are engaged in a desperate search for a 14-year-old boy, believed to have been a passenger on a small boat that capsized off Palm Beach. The search, involving surf life saving assets and helicopters, was launched after the alarm was raised around 11.30am local time on Wednesday, 31st December.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, a man pulled from the water by lifeguards died at the scene. He is suspected to have drowned and has not yet been formally identified. A third person was winched to safety by helicopter rescue teams in a dramatic operation.
Challenging conditions hamper rescue
Shocking images from the scene showed the vessel, a small aluminium boat commonly known as a 'tinnie' in Australia, upturned on jagged rocks. Rescue workers have been battling difficult conditions, with poor visibility, strong winds, and a large swell.
Rod McGibbon, president of the NSW Surf Life Saving Northern Beaches, stated the conditions "would have undoubtedly contributed to the incident." He added, "We wouldn't want to see this happen on any day, but particularly in that New Year and Christmas period."
Acting Inspector Nicole Turner from the Northern Beaches Police described the event as 'tragic', confirming the search would continue into the evening. Rescue teams faced a race against time, with sunset due at 8pm local time.
Community in shock as tragedy strikes idyllic location
The incident has rocked the upscale Sydney suburb of Palm Beach, an area internationally recognised as the filming location for the TV soap Home and Away. Local community forums expressed shock as emergency service sirens blared through the normally tranquil beachside area.
This tragedy follows other recent water-related incidents internationally, including the disappearance of two men off the coast of Devon in the UK on Christmas Day, and the death of a British holidaymaker in Bali in September.
