Marine search suspended for school leaver swept out to sea off NSW Mid-North Coast while celebrating end of exams

An 18-year-old graduate from one of the country’s most presitigous private schools is feared dead after being swept out to sea while celebrating schoolies. The search for Astin Grestl was called off on Tuesday, two days after he vanished wile swimming at Little Bay Beach at Arakoon on the Mid-North Coast about 4.20pm on Sunday afternoon.A search failed to find him on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, Marine Rescue NSW resumed searching for the missing man just before 8am. However, deteriorating offshore conditions led the volunteer service to stand down at 10.30am. The King’s School in Sydney’s Parramatta confirmed on Tuesday Astin had been a student. “I am afraid that I must confirm that the missing boy is a member of this year’s graduating class at King’s,” acting headmaster Stephen Edwards said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this profoundly difficult time. “The school is in contact with the family and will continue to provide support, while respecting their request for privacy. “As the search continues, I ask that you keep the family in your prayers and hold them in your hearts.” Support services have been made available to current and recently graduated students, he added. “Our volunteer crews battled a 25 to 30-knot south-westerly and a 1.5m swell, which is increasing,” Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Courtney Greenslade said. “It has become quite uncomfortable, making it extremely challenging for our volunteers. “Both vessels have now left the main search area.” NSW Police confirmed they were continuing their search on water and land where the Astin was last seen. On Monday, NSW Police Chief Inspector Mick Aldridge said the 18-year-old had been 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 told reporters. “A member of the National Parks was also trying to get him out of the water.” The area is not patrolled by lifesavers. The National Parks and Wildlife Service website says beaches in the Arakoon National Park “can have strong rip currents”. It’s the latest tragedy on NSW beaches, following last week’s fatal shark attack at Crowdy Bay which left a Swiss tourist dead and her boyfriend severely injured.On November 28, a 59-year-old man drowned at Racecourse Beach, near Crescent Head, while 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.