A 17-year-old boy is feared drowned as authorities prepare to enter a third day of searching for him at an unpatrolled beach north of Coffs Harbour.
Ali Mosawi was swimming with his brother and three cousins at Pebbly Beach, in the Yuraygirl National Park, when they got caught in a rip just before 4pm yesterday.
The group had driven seven hours to the remote beach from their home in Miller, in Sydney’s south-west.
Police said the five men were not strong swimmers, and were wading in waist-deep water when they lost their footing.
Ali’s three family members managed to reach the shore, but the 17-year-old old did not return to land.
One of the other boys had "taken on a lot of water", police said, and he was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
He remains in a stable condition.
Ali’s cousin, Ahmed Alai, said his family was struggling to cope with the unfolding tragedy.
“The family's back in Sydney barely holding on,” Mr Alai said.
“His mother is sitting over there mourning.”
Police divers, surf lifesavers and the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter launched a search for the missing Year 11 student yesterday, but it was called off due to low light at 6pm.
Authorities continued the extensive air and land search today, and will resume the operation tomorrow morning.
Acting Inspector Matt Zimmer from NSW Police told 9NEWS the remote Pebbly Beach is “dangerous.”
“The area of the beach is isolated, not patrolled, and although it looks quite safe from the shore it is quite dangerous,” Act. Insp. Zimmer said.