Family ‘remain hopeful’ after 11-year-old Laith Alaid swept out to sea at The Entrance #teen #boy

A father and his four boys were trying to cross The Entrance channel when a strong current took the eldest child
A young boy who vanished at sea on the New South Wales Central Coast is still missing as search and rescue efforts have been suspended after failing to locate him.
The boy has been identified as eleven-year-old Laith Alaid who was with his father, 43, crossing the channel at The Entrance with his three younger brothers, aged nine, seven and three.
Laith was following his father until he got pulled in by the fast-moving current and disappeared into the sea about 5:15pm on Sunday.
NSW Police media shared the update at 4:40pm after searches for the young boy entered its third day commencing on Tuesday morning.
A desperate search to find a missing boy who was swept out to sea has been scaled down after the major three-day operation failed to find any trace of him.
Laith Alaid, 11, had just finished fishing with his father, 43, and three younger brothers – aged nine, seven, and three – when he was swept out into the ocean at The Entrance, on NSW’s Central Coast, at about 5.15pm on Sunday.
His father was helping the three younger brothers cross a channel as they returned back to the shore when Laith, who was walking behind him, was pulled away by the tide.
Rescue helicopters, water police, and surf lifesavers have spent the past few days searching for the young boy, whose family recently moved to Australia from Iraq.
NSW Police announced on Tuesday that the co-ordinated multi-agency search had been suspended.
‘However, Tuggerah Lakes Police District, Marine Area Command and Surf Life Saving NSW, will continue regular patrols of the area over the coming days,’ NSW Police said.
Police have called off the search for an 11-year-old boy swept out to sea by a treacherous current on the New South Wales coast, just hours after the family said they were hopeful he would be found.
Police suspended the multi-agency marine search at 4pm on Tuesday, but said Tuggerah Lakes police district, marine area command and Surf Life Saving NSW would continue regular patrols of the area over the coming days.
A boy who was swept out to sea on Sunday has been identified as 11-year-old Laith Alaid, as the search to find him continues today.
The Alaid family has released a statement saying it has been “deeply moved” by the support it has received from the community.
Laith was swept out to sea while trying to cross The Entrance Channel at 5.15pm on Sunday with his father and three siblings, aged three, seven and nine.
A multi-agency search for an 11-year-old boy swept out to sea at a notorious Central Coast beach has been suspended, hours after his family said they remained hopeful their “beloved boy” would be found.
Laith Alaid was crossing the channel at The Entrance beach with his father, 43, and three younger brothers, aged nine, seven and three, when he was washed off its northern side about 5.15pm on Sunday, sparking a large-scale land, air and sea search.
A desperate search for 11-year-old Laith Alaid, who was swept out to sea at The Entrance on New South Wales’ Central Coast, has been scaled down after a three-day operation failed to locate him. Laith was fishing with his father and three younger brothers when he was pulled away by a strong tide around 5:15 PM on Sunday.
The family was attempting to cross a channel when the incident occurred. While Laith’s father managed to save his three younger sons, he could not reach Laith in time. An extensive search operation involving marine area command, Surf Life Saving, rescue helicopters, and local emergency services commenced immediately but has yielded no trace of the boy.
On Tuesday morning, police divers recovered some of Laith’s belongings, including a fishing chair and towel, but the search continues to face challenges due to treacherous conditions. The family has expressed their heartbreak and gratitude for the community’s support during this difficult time, holding onto hope for Laith’s safe return. Authorities are urging caution regarding the dangerous currents in the area as they continue their efforts.

SOURCE:-
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/laith-alaid-s-heartbroken-family-releases-public-statement-as-search-for-missing-boy-enters-day-three/news-story/3cc1bca9f2cd6bf327a007306fce76e9

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14041927/Tragic-update-hunt-missing-boy-11-swept-sea-Entrance-swam-treacherous-channel.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/05/search-for-boy-11-swept-out-to-sea-from-nsw-coast-enters-third-day

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