A boating incident at Palm Beach on New Year’s Eve has left one man dead and a teenage boy missing after a small vessel crashed onto rocks at Barrenjoey Headland.
Emergency services were called shortly after 11.30am on Wednesday, 31 December, following multiple Triple Zero (000) reports that several people had been washed from a boat that struck rocks near the eastern point of Barrenjoey Headland.
Emergency Response
A large emergency response was deployed, involving officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command, NSW Police Marine Area Command, Northern Beaches Council Palm Beach lifeguards, Surf Life Saving NSW North Palm Beach patrol, NSW Ambulance, the Toll NSW Ambulance Rescue Helicopter, and the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter.
Responders located a small tinny that had crashed onto rocks at the northern end of Palm Beach.
Man Found Unconscious on Shore
Guided by a caller observing from the headland, lifeguards located an adult man who had washed ashore at the northern end of the beach. The man, believed to be in his 40s, was unconscious and not breathing.
Lifeguards commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation while all-terrain vehicles were used to transport paramedics to the scene. A critical care doctor and paramedic were inserted onto the beach by helicopter.
Despite extensive resuscitation efforts, the man could not be revived and was declared deceased just before 12.15pm.
Two Other People Believed to Be in Boat
Police believe two other people were also in the boat when it was washed onto the rocks. It is understood none of the occupants were wearing life vests.
One of the remaining occupants, a man also believed to be in his 40s, was spotted by lifeguards after making it onto rocks near where the boat had come to rest. Due to heavy swell conditions, lifeguards on jet skis were initially unable to retrieve him.
The aeromedical team was flown from the beach to the rocks, where a critical care paramedic was winched down to reach the injured man. He was airlifted back to the beach, then transported by road ambulance to Royal North Shore Hospital with lower leg injuries. He was reported to be in a stable condition when taken to hospital shortly after 2.00pm.
Teenager Still Missing
Information provided by the man retrieved from the rocks confirmed a 14-year-old boy had also been in the boat.
Lifeguards on jet skis and the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter conducted extensive searches of the surrounding waters. A dye pack was deployed to assess current movement, however the teenage boy had not been located as of 3.00pm.
Search efforts are continuing, including the use of police divers, with authorities fearing the boy may have also perished.
Police Investigation Underway
NSW Police were seen conducting inquiries at the scene. A report will be prepared for the NSW Coroner, and the deceased man had not been formally identified at the time of reporting.
Published 31-Dec-2025
