A nine-year-old boy died on Sunday after becoming stuck between rocks at South West Rocks on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Emergency services were called to the shoreline at around 3:30pm. Despite efforts by police, fire crews, and surf lifesavers, the boy could not be saved.
Inspector Peter Walton from the Mid North Coast Police District confirmed an investigation is underway.
“Indications are it is nothing but a tragic misadventure which has resulted in the loss of a young child and unimaginable grief for the family,” he said.
“I can only imagine what the family was going through watching it all unfold … it was a very difficult situation for all that were there.”
“Indications are that he was just playing on the rocks, and probably a number of kids play on those rocks every day.”
The exact cause of death is still being investigated.
“Obviously being wedged there with the waves coming in, water may be a factor,” he said.
“I’d say be careful and don’t go out beyond your means, but obviously kids will be kids and have fun and this is just a tragic situation.”
Locals Mourn With Floral Tribute on Beach
Visitors returned to the popular beach on Monday, leaving a heart-shaped floral tribute in memory of the boy.
Larissa Halls, who has visited the area for 47 years, said she grew up playing on those same rocks.
“Me and my sister spent hours on those rocks, playing, snorkelling and jumping around and over them, the same as what the kids were doing down here yesterday, and never ever thinking that something like this could happen,” she said.
Her nine-year-old nephew asked to buy flowers to honour the child.
“He woke up this morning and he said that’s what he wanted to do,” she said.
“The kids are feeling it too because they’re about the same age as that little boy.”
“People come here for connection and love and joy with their family, and to hear about and witness such a tragic circumstance is absolutely heart-wrenching and heartbreaking.”
Mourners placed a heart-shaped floral tribute on the NSW Mid North Coast beach where the young boy lost his life after becoming trapped between rocks. (Nakita Jager: ABC Mid North Coast)
Easter Tragedies Continue Across NSW and Victoria
Earlier on Sunday, a man died and his teenage son was hospitalised after being swept off rocks at Wattamolla, in Sydney’s Royal National Park.
They were both found face down in the water and winched out by rescue teams.
The man died at the scene and has not yet been identified.
His 14-year-old son was taken to Randwick Children’s Hospital and has since been released.
Rescue teams also resumed the search on Monday for a 24-year-old man swept into the ocean at Little Bay on Good Friday.
The man had been walking on rocks with friends when a large wave struck. He didn’t resurface.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said they searched for more than seven hours on Sunday.
Worst Easter Weekend for Coastal Deaths on Record
Surf Life Saving NSW said this was the worst Easter long weekend for coastal drownings in state history.
Six people died in New South Wales and one in Victoria since Friday.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce described the weekend as:
“Absolutely horrific.”
“It would be the worst Easter drowning toll that we have seen in New South Wales on our record,” he said.
“Just the combination of hot temperatures, a long weekend, hundreds of thousands of people going to the coastline and an enormous swell that has impacted the coastline up and down.”
“For such a religious weekend, this has been absolutely horrific from a coastal drowning perspective,” he said.
More Rescues and Close Calls
Emergency services responded to 50 rescues on Easter Sunday.
Since Friday, over 100 lives were saved, 30 of them involving the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
Close calls included rock fishermen rescued at Bass Point and Avoca.
At Coffs Harbour, three swimmers were saved by lifeguards.
Woman Dies in Victoria After Being Swept Into Sea
In San Remo, Victoria, a woman died after a wave dragged her and her husband into the ocean.
They were walking with friends near Phillip Island when the wave struck.
A rescue mission was launched for her husband, but she could not be saved.
Warnings Cancelled But Caution Still Urged
The Bureau of Meteorology has cancelled hazardous surf warnings for Byron Coast, Coffs Coast, and Macquarie Coast.
However, authorities continue to urge caution.
Experts say conditions have eased, but the ocean remains dangerous.
