Lost in the lake: search resumes for boater missing for two nights

The Newcastle Herald understands four men were thrown from a small boat in the Swansea channel just before 8pm on Saturday when it struck a buoy in the water and overturned.

Three men, two aged 23 and another aged 20, were pulled from the water safely by members of the public at Dobinson Drive, Swansea.

The fourth man, 23-year-old Luke Smith, understood to be local to the area, disappeared and has remained missing despite major multi-agency searches from the land, sea and sky.

The official search operation has been backed by community members desperate to help after Mr Smith's family made public pleas for help on social media.

The multi-agency search was suspended late on Saturday night but resumed at about 7am on Sunday with a Westpac helicopter crew, police officers, divers, jet skiers, and teams from Surf Life Saving, Marine Rescue NSW and the State Emergency Service.

Heartbroken family and friends gathered at the shore of Lake Macquarie on Sunday as emergency services desperately searched for Mr Smith.

A crowd more than 70-strong at times, many crying and hugging each other, gathered at the Pelican foreshore near the Marine Rescue NSW Lake Macquarie base throughout Sunday as the search operation stretched into the afternoon.

Crews on board boats with flashing red and blue lights and jet skis, supported by the Westpac Surf Life Saving helicopter from above, could be seen combing the Swansea channel area for any sign of Mr Smith.

Divers were seen in the channel on Sunday afternoon.

Police confirmed Mr Smith had not been found and the search had again resumed by about 7.30am on Monday, July 8.

Mr Smith's father was visibly emotional as he spoke briefly to the media on Sunday to make a heartwrenching plea for better water safety and more marine policing at Lake Macquarie.

The Newcastle Herald understands the small boat Mr Smith was in with three other young men allegedly hit a buoy and capsized south of the Pelican public wharf.

Emergency services were alerted.

NSW Ambulance Acting Inspector Adam Grieve said multiple crews were tasked to the scene, including the special operations team and intensive care paramedics.

"On arrival they were directed to three men in their 20s who were treated for exposure to the cold from being in the water," he said.

One 23-year-old man was taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle where he underwent treatment for hypothermia.

Acting Inspector Grieve said paramedics were able to warm him up and he was in a stable condition, but warned the cold water could be very dangerous.

"It was imperative that they got help quite immediately and they were able to be out of the water and treated by paramedics," he said.

Police said the master of the boat, another 23-year-old man, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.

Lake Macquarie police have been piecing together how the tragedy unfolded and have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.