Police continue massive air and sea search for four teens missing off beach in Rosebud on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne

Four teenagers who disappeared off Rosebud Beach on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula have been found on an island more than 12 hours after they vanished.

Victoria Police confirmed the teens were discovered just before 9.30am on Tuesday.

“Great news! Four teens missing in waters off Rosebud have been found alive on Swan Island,” Victoria Police said on Twitter.

They teenagers were found by an island local on Tuesday morning and have been taken to Geelong Hospital.

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The four recent school graduates – two men, both aged 18, and two women, aged 18 and 19 – were reported missing at about 8pm Monday night after a passer-by discovered their belongings at the Rosebud Beach off Port Nepean Road.

Victoria Police acting superintendent Terrence Rowland said the discovery was an “absolutely sensational and fantastic” outcome for the families.

But Mr Rowland said the incident highlighted the need for Victorians to be aware of the “dangers” of swimming on the beaches during summer.

“I think you can see the smile on my face, asboslutely sensational that they’ve been found safe as well,” he said.

The now-discovered teenagers drifted more than 20 kilometres across Port Phillip Bay after heading to the beach on Monday night to celebrate finishing the VCE.

Officers established a large-scale search area with assistance from the Police Air Wing, HEMS ambulance helicopters, water police and community rescue boats on Monday night.

The search continued until 4am on Tuesday when it was paused until daybreak.

The father of one of the missing teenagers said the decision to call off the search for about three hours on Tuesday morning due to deteriorating conditions was frustrating.

“We’re very much frustrated. We have been waiting here since yesterday evening,” he told Sunrise.

“A lot of people are already helping, people in the sea, in the air and the police and we really appreciate that but we hope that this can be noticed by more people to help.”

Locals raised serious concerns around the teenagers’ disappearance, pointing to severe weather conditions battering the Mornington Peninsula on Monday night.

Before they were found, one man told Today the teenagers likely battled against a strong easterly wind and an outgoing tide.

“High tide would have been approximately before midnight so therefore if the outgoing tide plus an easterly pushing towards the heads the kids would have been blown quite easily towards Sorrento and Portsea,” he said.

Conditions on the waters off Rosebud Beach significantly deteriorated on Tuesday morning, with police telling Sunrise the entire Port Phillip Bay was included in the search area.

It’s understood the teenagers had recently completed their final year at school and came down to the beach to celebrate the release of VCE results.