The distraught family of Laith Alaid, who went missing in the waters off the NSW Coast on Sunday, are still holding out hope.
The 11-year-old boy was walking with his father and three siblings when the tragic incident occurred.
During the incident, the Alaid family got into difficulty due to the outgoing tide. Although the father was able to save some of the kids, Laith was swept away to sea.
The family is still focused on finding the missing boy. In a statement, the family thanked the community for its support.
The Alaid family also thanked the emergency services and members of the local community for their efforts in the search for their missing son.
They urged the people to remain vigilant and report anything that could help in the recovery efforts.
Mohammed Alhirz, a relative of the Alaid family, said the past couple of days have been very difficult for the family. He thanked the hotel and the local businesses for helping them during the incident.
Zeid Alhirz, another family member, said they are still hoping to find Laith.
Regardless of the challenges that may come, the family will continue searching for Laith to ensure that his father is able to rest easy. For years, the family has been visiting the area and fishing.
According to Zeid, the father was trying to save his kids when he was suddenly swept away.
It’s believed that the family took a shortcut across a channel between the ocean and an estuary. Laith was swept away as the tide was going out. Inspector David Piddington noted that people often try to cross the channel.
According to the police, the father tried to reach his son but he was unsuccessful. A witness said she saw a man struggling in the water while a child was struggling in the waves.
Laith was reportedly swept away in a couple of seconds. According to witness Gary Phillis, the father was hysterical as he tried to save his son. The search for the missing child resumed on Tuesday morning.
Several agencies, including surf lifesavers, police helicopters, and water police, were involved in the search. It spans a distance of about 15 kilometers from Avoca.
Steve Raymond, a marine rescue officer, said that volunteers were able to resume their search efforts on Monday despite the rough conditions in the ocean.
After retrieving some of Laith’s belongings, such as a fishing chair and a towel, the search was stopped at 4 pm.
Located about 100 kilometers north of Sydney, The Entrance is a popular destination for people who want to holiday.