No sign of boy, 11, swept out to sea in NSW while on family fishing trip

A search for an 11-year-old boy who was swept into the ocean on the NSW Central Coast yesterday while on a fishing trip with his family will resume tomorrow morning.

Locals today rallied around the family, which had just relocated from Iraq to Granville in Sydney's west, with calls for stronger safety measures around the waterway.

A 43-year-old father and his four boys had been fishing at The Entrance Channel yesterday when they ran into trouble as they made their way back across the channel about 5.15pm.

READ MORE: Most politicians fly Qantas despite cheapest fare rule, rival says

Two bystanders helped rescue three children - aged three, seven and 11 - when the eldest child was swept into the ocean by the current.

The father tried to reach his son, who disappeared into the water.

"We heard yelling out and looked over and saw a man rushing through the water and then noticed a little boy in the water with his arm up," witness Sarah Bailey said.

"And then the next minute the boy was gone, we just couldn't see him."

Police quickly launched an extensive land, air and sea search, with the assistance of Surf Life Saving members.

Two rescue helicopters were also involved in the search, but they were suspended due to poor light.

The search was called off about 12.15am and resumed at 8am today.

Police divers today uncovered a picnic chair the boy had been carrying but found no sign of him.

Police say English isn't the family's first language.

Warning signs about the channel are already in place, but locals are calling for signage in different languages.