A father and his four boys were trying to cross The Entrance channel when a strong current took the eldest child

Police have called off the search for an 11-year-old boy swept out to sea by a treacherous current on the New South Wales coast, just hours after the family said they were hopeful he would be found.

Police suspended the multi-agency marine search at 4pm on Tuesday, but said Tuggerah Lakes police district, marine area command and Surf Life Saving NSW would continue regular patrols of the area over the coming days.

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