Frantic search resumes for missing swimmers after tragic spate of New Year's drownings - as new details emerge about young man, 24, swept out to sea at Coogee Beach
A desperate search for a young man who was swept out to sea during a New Year's Day swim has resumed as new details emerge.
- Search has resumed for swimmer at Coogee Beach
- Rescue teams also looking for missing 14-year-old
- READ MORE: Details emerge about cop's dash to save man swept out to sea
By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER and TITA SMITH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 22:53 GMT, 1 January 2026 | Updated: 22:53 GMT, 1 January 2026
A desperate search for a young man who was swept out to sea during a New Year's Day swim at a popular Sydney beach has resumed.
Emergency crews rushed to Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs about 6am on Thursday after reports the swimmer, believed to be in his 20s, was in trouble.
TV cameras captured the moment NSW Police Constable Lucas Matthews charged into the surf in his full uniform, clutching a flotation device in a bid to assist two off-duty lifesavers who were also trying to reach him.
Tragically, the swimmer disappeared just minutes after rescue efforts began.
It has since been revealed the missing swimmer is a Nepalese national who has been living in Sydney for the last four years, news.com.au reports.
He works as a glass collector at the Coogee Pavilion.
The search at Coogee was temporarily suspended on Thursday due to bad weather, but resumed Friday despite hazardous conditions and a large swell.
A 14-year-old boy also remains missing after a dinghy capsized in massive swell at Palm Beach on Sydney's Northern Beaches on New Year's Eve.
Emergency crews rushed to Coogee Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs about 6am on Thursday after reports the swimmer, believed to be in his 20s, was in trouble in the water
It was revealed on Friday that the man is a Nepalese national who has been living in Sydney for four years and works as a glass collector at the Coogee Pavilion
Search efforts were called off on Thursday due to poor weather but resumed on Friday
A man died while another was able to scramble to some nearby rocks.
He was winched to safety by a rescue helicopter and lowered onto a clearing near the foreshore car park for emergency treatment.