News: Search for missing NSW boy in the 'recovery stage'.

Update:

A woman reported to be the aunt of missing five-year-old boy Chayce Kofe has spoken out about her grief on social media.

Chayce’s aunt took to Facebook to share her devastation at lose her ‘little nephew,” Fairfax Media reports.

“(W)e will find Chayce … Loving you always Aunty Wella,” Wella Kupu wrote, reposting a NSW Police statement about the accident to her profile.

“Where there are no words know the silence are carrying the thoughts and prayers of all who love you Chayce (sic),” Ms Kupu wrote.

“I may have only held you in my arms for a moment…..But i will HOLD you im my heart forever Chayce,” she reportedly said.

Ms Kupu also shared pictures of Chayce, Fairfax reports.

Previously, Mamamia wrote…

Search efforts to find a five-year-old boy missing in NSW have turned into a recovery operation, Ninemsn reports.

The boy was hit by a wave and washed off Pearl Beach on the state’s central coast at about 1:50pm yesterday, Fairfax Media reports.

An air and sea search was launched yesterday afternoon — and search efforts resumed at first light this morning, with Ninemsn reporting that several boats have been searching the seas for the young boy.

Detective Superintendent Mark Hutchings told reporters today the search was at ‘the recovery stage’.

“We always hold out some hope but my experience tells me that we have been going for some time and unfortunately I think we are in the recovery stage,” Mr Hutchings said. “That is quite tragic and our hearts and thoughts do go out to the family this morning.”

Fairfax Media cite a spokeswoman for Surf Life Saving NSW as saying the boy’s family members may not have known how to swim and could not save him when the wave swept the child out.

“They’re not sure whether anybody could actually swim,” the spokeswoman said.

“It’s deep water straight off the beach there.” 

The boy’s family are on the beach being comforted by counsellors and police, Ninemsn reports.