16-Year-Old Boy Found Dead in Macquarie River, NSW

A 16-year-old boy who went missing while swimming in the Macquarie River near Sandy Beach Road in Dubbo, NSW, was confirmed dead after a search operation. The boy disappeared around 5:40 PM on Monday, and emergency services, including Police Rescue and SES, launched an extensive search that resumed on Tuesday morning. He was last seen wearing blue Adidas shorts and is described as being of African appearance, approximately 175 cm tall with a solid build. This incident is part of a concerning trend, as recent weeks have seen multiple drowning incidents in inland rivers across NSW. Royal Life Saving Australia has raised alarms about rising drowning deaths and swimming ability, highlighting that many Australians, especially children, missed swimming lessons during the COVID-19 pandemic. A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the recovery of the body.