The body of a 14-year-old boy was recovered in the La Mercy lagoon around midday after a drowning was reported.

Quentin Power of the Ballito-based Specialised Rescue Unit was called to the scene by Durban Lifeguards at Umdloti.

“They had confirmed that a person had gone missing so we headed to the scene and contacted the Police Search and Rescue Unit,” said Power.

“We started an initial search with the lifeguards and conducted a joint scuba-diving search with the police when they arrived.”

The units found the teenager about two and a half metres underwater.

“Apparently the boy and his friend had gone out on a fishing trip and went swimming in the lagoon to cool down. His friend swam back to shore and looked back and could not see the boy anywhere.”

Tongaat SAPS have opened an investigation into the incident, but Power believes it was an innocent accident.

“It was an incoming tide, so it could be that he just lost his footing and was swept into deep water. The way he was recovered, we found no evidence of foul play.”

The boy’s parents were at the scene and were informed of their child’s death.