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Search for vulnerable missing boy wearing only swim shorts

Catriona Aitken
BBC News
North Wales Police A teenage boy with short brown hair, smiling and looking directly at the cameraNorth Wales Police
Athrun, 16, went missing from West Shore Beach in Llandudno on Saturday afternoon

An extensive search is under way for a "vulnerable" 16-year-old boy who was last seen at a seaside resort wearing only his swimming shorts.

Police were alerted at about 14:00 BST on Saturday after Athrun, who is autistic, was reported missing from West Shore Beach in Llandudno, Conwy county, close to the boating lake and playpark.

Det Ch Insp Simon Kneale from North Wales Police said Athrun, who is from Gloucestershire, was on holiday in the area with his family.

He was described as 6ft (183cm) tall and of slim build, with short dark hair, and police said he may walk with an unusual gait.

He is believed to be wearing only blue and white patterned swim shorts and no footwear.

North Wales Police A boy with short dark hair, wearing blue and white patterned swim shorts and no top, paddling in the sea, which is behind him, and turning around to look at the camera.North Wales Police
Athrun is believed to be wearing blue and white patterned swim shorts and no top, as pictured

"He was on the beach with his father and brother and was last seen running towards the water's edge," Det Ch Insp Kneale told BBC News.

"Athrun does have family in the area and quite often visits, so he does know the area well."

Det Ch Insp Kneale added: "He's a very vulnerable young lad."

Specialist police officers have been carrying out land, water and airborne searches in the area.

They are being helped by the National Police Air Service, the Search and Rescue Dogs Association, and the HM Coastguard which confirmed it had deployed multiple lifeboats and a helicopter.

A beach with pebbles in the forefront, sand in the middle and sea at the back. In the distance there are mountains. There are a few groups of people and dogs on the beach, at a distance.
An extensive search of the area around West Shore Beach has been under way since Athrun was reported missing

North Wales Police said the investigation was being treated as a "high-risk missing person inquiry" and urged members of the public to "remain vigilant, but not to place themselves at risk" while searching for Athrun.

Det Ch Insp Kneale asked anyone who had been in the West Shore Beach area on Saturday to check their photographs.

"They may have taken a selfie, family photographs, it might just be that they have captured the family in the background," he said.

"And if they've captured Athrun in the background of those photos we'd be really interested to hear from them."

Det Ch Insp Kneale said people had been stopping officers in the street to volunteer their help.

"We've been really warmed by the response we've had overnight," he added.