A search and rescue operation is under way to find a teenage boy who got into difficulty in the sea off the East Yorkshire coast, police have said.
Humberside Police are working to find a 13-year-old boy who was swimming in the sea off the South Promenade area of Hornsea on Tuesday evening.
Police received reports of a concern for the boy’s safety at around 6pm and have since launched an “extensive search and rescue operation” to locate him.
Chief Superintendent Phil Booker said: “After receiving the report, officers were immediately deployed alongside other emergency services and upon attending, it was discovered that a 13-year-old boy had reportedly got into difficulty whilst swimming in the water.
“Our priority now is to find the boy, and members of the public can expect to see specialist Police Search Advisors (POLSA), along with our Marine Unit and drone pilots, who have also been deployed to conduct an extensive search and rescue operation to locate him.
“We would urge people to please avoid the area where possible to allow emergency services to work efficiently and safely, and refrain from speculating on the circumstances of the incident.
“Our inquiries continue to ascertain the full circumstances around the report, and we would ask anyone with any information that may assist us, to please speak to the officers in Hornsea, or contact us via our non-emergency number 101 quoting log 415 of August 4.”
Footage and photographs taken at the scene show a lifeboat on the sea, and an HM Coastguard helicopter circling above.