Police were still searching for a Shepparton teenager on Tuesday afternoon after he was feared drowned following an incident on Lake Mulwala at Yarrawonga on Sunday.
Police divers along with several patrol boats continued their efforts on Tuesday in more calmer weather conditions.
Police and emergency services were first called to the scene about 100 metres north of the Sebel Yarrawonga resort about 9am Sunday, after two 16-year-old males fell from a boat while fishing on the lake.
A quick thinking bystander rushed to the rescue and was able to save one boy, but was unable to locate the second boy. Witnesses on the shore reported seeing him disappear underwater.
National media reports have revealed the missing teenager is Jack Bird from Shepparton.
Police divers and air wing were called to try and find the second teenager, searching all day on Sunday, Monday and into Tuesday.
Senior Sergeant Nathan Ractliffe confirmed at a media conference the boat did not capsize but could not confirm if the boys were wearing a life jacket as investigations were ongoing.
Sgt Ractliffe said police investigators believed the boat was “motoring along and likely to have succumbed to the water conditions… subsequently throwing the two males from the boat into Lake Mulwala”.
Sgt Ractliffe said the boat stayed upright and movement in the water threw the males out of the boat which has now been seized for further investigation.
He said witnesses saw the two boys treading water.
“A good Samaritan has actually grabbed a floatation device from a nearby resort and assisted one of those males to come back to shore.
“The good Samaritan has then tried to go back in to assist the second male in the water, but he was unable to be located at that stage.
“A number of witnesses were trying to communicate to the second male trying to keep him above water to reassure him while the other was being assisted.”
Sgt Ractliffe said the exact search location centred on the Victorian/Yarrawonga side of the lake was about 150-200 metres west of Chinamans Island bend or 100 metres north of the resort (Silverwoods, Sebel Yarrawonga) where the incident occurred.
He said the rescued male is being supported by family and his strong community network and is assisting police with their ongoing investigation.
Police and emergency services found it extremely difficult on Monday to undergo a number of search activities due to the weather, but they are doing everything they can to locate the male.
Sgt Ractliffe asked people using the lake to be wary of the search.
“We are asking members of the public to provide some distance from the operation and if they have any information relating to the missing male in any way to call triple 0 straight away and remain where they are until police arrive.”
The search will continue, with police divers, Search and Rescue, Air Wing, Water Police and SES from both sides of the border involved.