Warning signs at a popular Central Coast beach are set to be reviewed following the tragic drowning of a young boy who was swept away from his family while on a fishing trip.
Laith Alaid, 11, was crossing a channel at The Entrance about 5pm on Sunday when he was caught up in the outgoing tide.
His father, 43, got his three other sons aged three, seven and nine to safety but he could not reach Laith.
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A body, believed to be that of the missing boy, was found in the water at The Entrance about 2.30pm on Wednesday, NSW Police said.
David Mehan MP State Member for The Entrance, shared his condolences in a touching post following the tragedy.
“On Sunday the 3rd of November, Laith was swept out to sea by a strong current in The Entrance Channel while crossing the channel from north to south with his father and three brothers,” he wrote on Thursday.
“Yesterday a body, believed to be Laith, was found and retrieved.
“Our whole community shares in the sorrow being felt by the family of Laith at this time.”
Mehan added he believed better safety measures in the area could help prevent further tragedy.
“I have asked Council to review warning signs at the channel to ensure warning messages reach all visitors to our region,” he said.
Relatives said the family had visited and fished at the popular tourist spot for years, and had crossed the unpatrolled channel at least three times on Sunday before tragedy struck.
The emergency triggered an extensive multi-agency search for the child, although there was no sign of him until Wednesday.
Family member Zeid Alhirz previously said loved ones were desperate to find the boy.
“We really hope that we can find him,” he said.
“No matter what it takes, we have to find him. We have to find him so that his father can rest easy.”
The family were visiting from Sydney and had been fishing when it is understood they took a shortcut across the channel between an estuary and the ocean.
Laith was swept away while the tide was going out.
Bystanders looked after the other three children while Laith’s father tried to reach him.
“(The father) came here by himself and with his four beautiful boys … and he tried to save them all, he saved three and by the time he turned around (Laith) was gone … in a split second,” Alhirz said.
Inspector David Piddington said “lots of people try to move across that channel” but he advised against it.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.