A teenage boy drowned while swimming in the Bay Hall area in Richards Bay yesterday afternoon.

His lifeless body was located and recovered by police following a search operation, which included the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Richards Bay duty crew.

“NSRI Richards Bay rescue swimmers, our NSRI Richards Bay rescue vehicle, the SAPS and Police Sea Borderline Control responded while the NSRI Richards Bay rescue craft Rescue 19 Bravo was launched.

“On arrival at the scene, NSRI rescue swimmers joined uMhlathuze lifeguards together conducting free dive search efforts in conjunction with surface water and shoreline search efforts,” said NSRI Richards Bay deputy station commander Norman Rautenbach.

“Police divers scuba dived in the search area where they located and recovered the body of the teenager.”

The body has been taken into the care of Government Health Forensic Pathology Services and police have opened an inquest docket.