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Tragedy has struck New South Wales‘ Central Coast. Four Australian teens found themselves fighting for survival Sunday night. As 9 News reports, one of them did not make it out alive.
Around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Riahne Louie “Chuckie” Vasquez was with three other teens off Soldier’s Beach in Norah Head, New South Wales, Australia. According to reports, the four were standing on a sand bar when it collapsed. Two made it back to shore on their own, and another was saved by surfers.
Soon after, authorities began a search by sea and air, which was eventually called off at 11:30 p.m. Foot patrols along the shore continued throughout the night.
The search was resumed at 7 a.m. the following morning, and a body was discovered by a dive team around 10:45 a.m. Vasquez’s family confirmed with “deep sadness in our hearts” that it was Riahne.
Members of the community were quick to pay tribute to Vasquez, who was remembered as a “beautiful soul” who was “cherished by everyone.”
Police officials also praised the surfers who came to the other teen’s aid, saying, “Their efforts were heroic. Without their intervention, we might be looking for two males this morning.”