Rescuers: ‘Slim’ Chance of Finding Teenager Alive After Being Swept Away at Maroubra Beach

Hope dims for finding the 14-year-old boy alive after being swept away by strong currents in Maroubra Beach in Sydney on Tuesday.

Rescuers looking for Tui Gallaher, who went missing off Maroubra Beach in Sydney’s east at 8.30pm on Tuesday, believe the chances of finding the teenager alive were ‘slim’.

However, Tui’s family refuse to give up hope. “Maybe he can still be found alive and, well, maybe this is just us in denial again, but we can’t give up hope,” Tui’s aunt who lives in America told The Daily Telegraph.

Tui and his cousin, both from Guildford in Sydney’s west, were at the beach with their family when the surf became too rough and they ended up having difficulty in the rough waters that evening.

A 26-year-old man noticed Tui’s cousin and managed to help him to shore, but Tui disappeared in the rough surf. Emergency services were immediately called and the man swam out to try and locate Tui.

The search and rescue operation was then launched which involved the Marine Area Command, Police Rescue, the Ambulance Rescue helicopter and SLSA Lifeguards. However, at 11.40pm, the search was suspended due to poor visibility and dangerous surf conditions.

Matthew Evans from Surf Lifesaving NSW said the 3-4 foot swell and a number of rips are making the search difficult. 

The next day, Wednesday, the search for Tui resumed at 7.30am that involved police and Surf Rescue crews.

In a media conference on Wednesday morning, police said they believe to know the area the teenager vanished and are scouring the water near the shore.

Tui’s mother collapsed on the foreshore while watching the rescue teams search for her son and she reportedly yelled: ‘I just want my boy back’. She was helped onto the life savers’ buggy by lifeguards and a friend.

Most of Tui’s family live overseas and have to try to provide support from a distance, even his father is away, visiting Tonga over the holiday season. “We live so far away there is nothing we can do but wait for news, hopefully good news, and we appreciate all the search efforts and everyone involved,” the aunt said.

The Westpac helicopter crew is still looking for Tui, however, operators admit the chances of finding him alive now are ‘slim’.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk