An urgent police search is underway for a 13-year-old boy who got into trouble swimming off the coast of Hornsea, East Yorkshire, on Tuesday evening.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after receiving reports at around 6pm regarding concerns for the safety of the boy.

HM Coastguard, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Humberside Fire and Rescue Services, and Humberside Police officers have been deployed to the area of the South Promenade, and are being assisted with the force’s marine unit and drone pilots.

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.”

Police have asked members of the public to stay away from the beach as they conduct their search.

“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,” Mr Booker said.

“Our enquiries 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 4 August.”

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