The recent spate of tragic incidents on the NSW Mid North Coast is growing, as the search continues for a Sydney school leaver who was swept out to sea near South West Rocks. 

The 18-year-old man, who graduated from Sydney’s King’s private school, was last seen struggling in the water off Little Bay Beach in Arakoon about 4:20pm on Sunday.

NSW Police Chief Inspector Mick Aldridge said the young man was on a schoolies trip with friends to celebrate the end of HSC exams.

“Witnesses and bystanders tried to get to him, but he was dragged out to sea,” he said.

“A member of the National Parks was also trying to get him out of the water.” 

A small sandy beach flanked on either side by headlands

A swimmer has gone missing at Little Bay Beach at Arakoon near South West Rocks on the NSW Mid North Coast. (Sophia McCaughan: ABC Mid North Coast)

The area has a car park and picnic facilities, but is not patrolled by lifesavers. 

Safety advice on the National Parks and Wildlife Service website states that beaches in the Arakoon National Park “can have strong rip currents”.

Keith Robinson, a surfer and board shaper from nearby Nambucca, said the area around Little Bay was deceptively dangerous.

“It’s a beautiful looking place, nice big sand bar, and it’s shallow,” he said.

“But if you venture out a little too far there’s a hell of a current ripping around the back of that wall there.”‘Tragic’ start to summer

The incident follows the death of a 59-year-old man who drowned at Racecourse Beach, near Crescent Head, on Friday, November 28.

That came just a day after a woman died and a man was badly injured during a shark attack at Crowdy Bay, also on the Mid North Coast.

“Summer has started with a bit of a tragic flurry,” CEO Surf Life Saving NSW Steven Pearce said.

“It’s been a very difficult 48 hours for the first responders.

“It does show the dangers of swimming outside of those red and yellow flags where there are no lifesavers.”

Surf Life Saving NSW is urging people to swim at patrolled beaches where there are lifesavers on duty.

Just after dark on November 23, an 18-year-old man drowned after being swept out to sea at Soldiers Beach on the NSW Central Coast.

Riahne Louie Vasquez was standing on a sandbank in front of the surf club when it collapsed, creating a rip that led to his drowning.