‘Heartbroken’: Tributes for 18-year-old drowning victim Riahne Vasquez

Heartbroken family and friends have paid tribute to a talented basketball player who tragically drowned in the surf on the NSW Central Coast.

Riahne Louie Vasquez, 18, was dragged onto the beach while swimming with friends at Soldiers Beach on Sunday evening.

During the incident, two of his friends returned to shore and another 18-year-old man was rescued by surfers.

Mr. Vasquez’s family and friends waited on shore all night Monday until searchers pulled the body from the water.

He is remembered as a talented athlete who was a much-loved member of the Central Coast Waves Basketball community.

Romeo Vasquez paid tribute to the lively and kind-hearted young man whose passion for basketball and respect for his teammates left an unforgettable mark on everyone who knew him.

“Riahne’s legacy – her work ethic, warmth and love of basketball – will live on in the hearts of her teammates, coaches and the broader Central Coast community,” he said.

The Central Coast Waves Basketball Association released a statement saying Mr. Vasquez was an outstanding young man who was respected by his peers, admired by coaches and cherished by all.

“His loss left a deep void in our club and in the hearts of everyone who played with him,” the statement said.

“Riahne will forever be a part of the Waves family.”