Search called off for 13yo boy missing in sea waters

Breaking News: The search for a 13-year-old missing off the coast of Auckland has been called off.

The boat he was on got into trouble near Ponui Island yesterday.

Four men were on board the four-metre boat when it set off from Kawakawa Bay at 11am. Police alerted the Coastguard and Search and Rescue Response Centre when the men, all Papakura locals, had not returned by midnight last night.

The upturned boat was found about 8:50 this morning near Ponui Island in the Firth of Thames, by a member of public in a yacht.

Two of the men were found clinging to the vessel while a third person was located in the water nearby by a police helicopter. A crew member jumped into the sea to rescue him.

Two of the men were taken to Auckland Hospital in a serious condition, while the third, a 21-year-old, was helping police with the ongoing search for the 13-year-old onboard the police boat.

Police say none of the men recovered were wearing life jackets.