Teenager found safe following search

The circumstances surrounding a 14 year old local male going missing in Richards Bay Port have not been determined but he was found safe this morning during a search.NSRI Richards Bay volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated at 08h00 on the 8th June following a request for assistance from a concerned bystander. The teenager had launched to paddle on a paddle board at 16h00 from the Multisports Club yesterday, 07th June, and had reportedly met with friends at Casurinas (in the harbour area) and at 22h00 had left to apparently paddle back to the Multisports Club. After failing to return home his parents had begun searching for him this morning before NSRI Richards Bay were activated to assist.NSRI Richards Bay had their sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF RICHARDS BAY on the water at the time to begin a search and their sea rescue vehicle as well as the sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF ROUND TABLE. The Transnet National Ports Authority rescue helicopter joined in a search operation.An hour into the search the youngster was found paddling in the harbour area and has been reunited with his family. It remains unknown to NSRI as to why he did not return the previous night or where he had been during the night. The boy's mother waits on the shore as he paddles back to the sea rescue base escorted by Spirit of Round Table 1. Kid's launch | 2. Last seen at 22h00 | 3. Found at 09h37