Authorities will resume a full air and water search on Friday morning for a five-year-old boy who was swept into the sea off a NSW Central Coast beach.

The planes, helicopters and surf lifesaving dinghies that were recalled as light faded on Thursday evening will resume a search that was manned overnight by a police command post.

The boy was swept into the surf off Pearl Beach by a large wave about 1.50pm on Thursday.

Speaking with ABC, Acting Superintendent Paul Nicholls said the young boy was swimming with a group of family and friends when he went missing. 

“He was playing near the shoreline and he was swept out into the surf,” he said. 

Acting Superintendent Nicholls said that the family had tried to unsuccessfully to grab the boy but were unable to reach him.

“We understand that some of the people that he was with have gone into the water to go and assist but they were unable to locate him.”

According to the ABC report, it is alleged that most of the boy’s extended family was not confident in the water.

– with AAP