A night at the beach ended in tragedy for an 18-year-old and his family after a sandbar he was standing on suddenly gave way, plunging him into the sea.
A Fatal Collapse on the NSW Coast
Riahne Vasquez, aged 18, was standing on a sandbar at Soldiers Beach, off Norah Head on the NSW Central Coast, with three teenage friends on Sunday night when the structure collapsed without warning. All four boys were thrown into the water. While two managed to swim to safety and a third was rescued by nearby surfers, Riahne was tragically swept away.
An extensive overnight search operation was immediately launched, involving helicopters, drones, divers, and boats. The search teams battled challenging conditions, with 15-knot winds and three-metre swells hampering their efforts. Riahne's distraught family spent the long night pacing the beach, hoping for a miracle.
A Community in Mourning
The search concluded with devastating news around midday on Monday. Riahne's body was found floating in the shallows. On Tuesday, his family released a statement expressing their 'deep sadness'.
'His journey here on Earth has come to a peaceful end, and while we are grieving, we take comfort knowing he is now embraced by God's eternal light and love,' the statement read. The family asked for prayers for 'Chuckie' and for themselves during this profoundly difficult time.
Riahne was a talented basketball player with the Central Coast Waves, a club that described him as a 'remarkable young man'. 'Respected by his peers, admired by coaches, and cherished by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him,' the club's statement continued. 'His loss leaves a profound hole in our club and in the hearts of all who played alongside him.' The club has pledged to offer support to all affected players and staff.
A History of Danger at a Popular Spot
NSW Police Supt Chad Gillies confirmed the family was traumatised by the event. A report will now be prepared for the coroner. This incident is not the first tragedy at Soldiers Beach this year. In March, a man died at the same beach after suffering a medical episode, and in September, a swimmer was pulled unconscious from the water and could not be revived.
While the beach is popular with divers due to a shipwreck off its shore, locals warn that its strong rip currents can pose a deadly risk to unprepared swimmers, a hidden danger that turned a recreational outing into a fatal disaster.
