Missing boy, 12, sparks desperate rescue efforts from coastguard and police in Old Portsmouth and Southsea

The 12-year-old went missing from his home sparking frantic efforts to find him – with searches carried out at sea off Old Portsmouth and Southsea, as well as in land.

Police led the investigation after receiving a call at 8.15pm before the boy was found later in the evening.

A police spokeswoman said: ‘We were called after a 12-year-old boy went missing from his home address.

‘A multi-agency search was conducted in the Old Portsmouth and Southsea area. The boy was located later that evening.’

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: ‘Hampshire police requested our assistance to help in the search for a missing person who has now been found.

‘Our helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent, Coastguard rescue teams from Hill Head and Portsmouth, and the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service all assisted in the search.’

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