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Family appeal to missing boat boy Families speak about sea search
(about 2 hours later)
The family of a boy missing off the Dorset coast after his boat capsized have pleaded for him to come home because "he is not in trouble". The father of a boy rescued after the boat he took with a friend capsized at night off the Dorset coast has spoken of how he thought his son was in bed.
Kyle Moore, 14, from Portland, Dorset, is feared drowned after the rowing boat he took from a boatyard with his friend, also 14, capsized on Sunday. Richard Webb, 14, was plucked from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat in Portland Harbour early on Sunday, after sneaking out with his best friend Kyle Moore.
His friend was rescued but the search for Kyle has now been scaled down. Kyle, also 14, is still missing and a search operation has been scaled down.
On Monday, Kyle's family made an emotional plea for him to come home, saying, "he is not in trouble".
Jeffery Webb, Richard's father, described mixed emotions of relief and sorrow.
In shock
"We feel relieved that we have got him home," he said.
"I'm just so sorry for Sue (Kyle's mother). I just hope Kyle is hiding somewhere.
"They are best mates. Richard is still in shock."
Kyle and Richard took a rowing boat from a boatyard at about 0200 GMT on Sunday.
Kyle was not wearing a lifejacket and coastguard teams, who have searched 40-sq miles of sea and land between Portland Harbour and Ringstead, described the sea conditions as "treacherous".
Mr Webb, 52, an electrician at HMP The Verne, Portland, said: "I thought he was at home in bed. He snuck out of the house.
"They just went out, just for fun. They were just having a prank. They just wanted to take it for a little row round and put it back. That was it."
He described how the boat was "swamped" in the rough sea and the boys, who are neighbours in Portland, were talking to each other and trying to stay together.
Kyle's family and rescuers are clinging to the hope he may have got to shore and be too embarrassed to come forward.Kyle's family and rescuers are clinging to the hope he may have got to shore and be too embarrassed to come forward.
In a statement, the family said: "Kyle is a well-liked boy and well known by everyone.In a statement, the family said: "Kyle is a well-liked boy and well known by everyone.
'Could not see'
"He is not in trouble, we just want to know that he is safe and well and for him to come home."He is not in trouble, we just want to know that he is safe and well and for him to come home.
"We are devastated and are asking if anyone has any information at all to please, please contact the police or coastguard.""We are devastated and are asking if anyone has any information at all to please, please contact the police or coastguard."
Treacherous sea Mr Webb said Richard was still "shook up" and would be off school for a while.
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. "It wasn't long after they got separated that Richard got picked up," he added.
Lee Fisher, Portland Coastguard rescue co-ordination manager, said volunteers, coastguards, search and rescue teams and police had covered 40-sq miles of sea and land between Portland Harbour and Ringstead since 0200 GMT on Sunday. "It was that dark I don't think they could really see.
Kyle's friend, who has not been named, is recuperating with his family at home after he was rescued at about 0300 GMT on Sunday, by the RNLI lifeboat. "Richard is a good swimmer. He might be a stronger swimmer than Kyle."
Kyle was not wearing a lifejacket and coastguard teams described the sea conditions as "treacherous". Supt Darren Curtis, of Dorset Police, said sonar equipment was being used in a widened land search.
Search efforts at sea had been reduced and the focus will now be on a land search. Pupils at Royal Manor Arts College, in Portland, where both boys were in Year 10, were being offered counselling.
Supt Darren Curtis, of Dorset Police, said: "Sonar equipment will be used along with around 60 people to search breakwaters, coves and beaches along the coastline from Lulworth Cove to Portland Harbour."
He urged the teenager to come forward, adding: "It wouldn't be the first time someone has not come home because they are embarrassed."
On Monday, neighbours described Kyle as a "polite little gentleman".