An urgent rescue effort has entered its third day, after two teenagers fell into the water at the site of a popular blowhole in Victoria and one was swept out to sea.
Lauchlon Humphries, 14, and his 15-year-old friend were on the rocks at Cape Bridgewater, about 370 kilometres west of Melbourne, when a wave pulled them into the water on Tuesday.
The 15-year-old climbed to safety, but Mr Humphries is still missing.
After extricating himself, the 15-year-old raised the alarm about his friend, at about 7.30pm. Victoria Police, Lifesaving Victoria and the Coast Guard rushed to the scene.
The 15-year-old was taken to hospital.
Distressed family members also arrived at the scene, desperate for news from the rescue teams, with rescue helicopters circling overhead.
“Emergency services are currently searching for a teenage boy in waters off Blowholes Road in Cape Bridgewater,” Victoria Police said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
“The teenager was with a friend when he was swept into the ocean just before 7.30pm and is yet to be located.”
The rescue effort was suspended again as darkness fell on Wednesday night, but recommenced at first light on Thursday.
Parks Victoria warns those planning on visiting the blowholes near Portland that strong currents are a hazard there, as are the slippery rocks and unstable cliffs.
The site features a 400-metre gravel walkway to view the rock formations, with many who visit describing the conditions as windy.
“It can be very windy so be sure of your footing and surroundings, as I saw some people get very close to the edge for ‘the perfect photo’ without considering the windy conditions,” one person wrote in a TripAdvisor review.
“There was plenty of spray formed by the constant beating of the waves against the cliff and rocks below. It was scary at times as the waves swelled high due to the extreme blowing and intermittent rain that fell,” another recounted.