Search for missing boy continues

Kyle had not been wearing a life-jacket

Rescue teams are continuing to search for a boy missing since he and a friend capsized in a rowing boat.

Kyle Moore, 14, from Portland, Dorset, took a rowing boat from a boatyard with his friend, also 14.

His friend was rescued, but Kyle has not been seen since the boat capsized on Sunday morning. Only the boat's oars have been found.

Severe weather had limited searches overnight, a coastguard spokesman said, but they resumed in the morning.

About 60 people, including volunteers, coastguard teams and police, joined in the search over the morning, focusing on the 40-square mile shoreline between Portland Harbour and Ringstead.

He was a proper gentleman, very polite Raymond Coleman

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) spokesperson said the boys had made a 999 call at about 0200 GMT on Sunday, saying they had taken a boat and were out in Portland Harbour.

"They were laughing and joking," the spokesperson said.

"About 45 minutes later things took a turn for the worst. The boat seemed to capsize and they were thrown into the water."

Kyle's friend, who has not been named, is recuperating with his family at home.

He was rescued at about 0300GMT on Sunday, by the RNLI lifeboat.

Kyle was not wearing a lifejacket and coastguard teams described the sea conditions as "treacherous".

'State of flux'

Pupils at the boys' school, Royal Manor Art College, were being offered counselling following the tragedy.

Jan Botterill, vice-chair of the governors, said: "They are in a state of flux because nothing has been established with the second boy."

Raymond Coleman, neighbour to Kyle and his mother, said: "They are always up to things, boys his age, pranks and that, but every time he came into my house he was a proper gentleman, very polite."

He added: "I don't think they knew anything about boats. He is only a boy."

But rescuers have not given up hope that he will be found.

Lee Fisher, coastguard rescue co-ordination manager, said: "They (Kyle's parents) are still hopeful because there is still a search and rescue operation on-going.

"That's obviously bringing some hope to their predicament."

Last night, Jim Anderson, from Portland Coastguard, said: "There is a possibility that he may be hurt or unconscious on the shoreline somewhere, particularly on the break-waters of Portland Harbour."

Police officers have not ruled out the possibility that he may be on land somewhere.