A man has died and a 14-year-old boy is feared missing after a boat crashed and capsized onto rocks near a popular beach.

Emergency services raced to the scene at Barrenjoey Headland near Palm Beach on Sydney‘s Northern Beaches about 11.30am on Wednesday. 

A man was pulled from the water by Surf Life Saving members and given CPR by paramedics at the scene but was unable to be revived.

He was found about 25metres away from the small boat which ended up upside down on the rocks. The man is yet to be formally identified.

A second man managed to climb onto rocks before he was winched to safety by the Toll rescue helicopter. 

He suffered lacerations to his left leg and was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital in a stable condition.

‘A search operation has commenced – with assistance from Marine Area Command, PolAir and Marine Rescue NSW – to locate a 14-year-old boy who may have been a passenger on the boat,’ a police statement read.

Multiple emergency crews attended the scene, including a Toll helicopter. 

Emergency responders remains at the scene as the search continues.

Rescue boats and jet skis were seen in the water as several helicopters circled the scene from above. 

Locals have urged motorists to stay clear of the area and keep the only road into Barrenjoey Headland free for emergency vehicles. 

Many posted in a Facebook community group.  

‘I’ve now counted 29 emergency vehicles go past us in Palmy,’ one local wrote. 

‘There have been at least 30 sirens heading past Avalon,’ another said. 

‘Three helicopters at the beach,’ a third commented.  

Anyone with information should police Northern Beaches police or Crime Stoppers.