A seven-year-old boy has drowned in the Boknes Lagoon, outside Port Alfred, the National Sea Rescue Institute said on Thursday.

“At 10.10am…[an NSRI] crew were alerted by a frantic father reporting his child missing,” spokesman Craig Lambinon said.

“The father reported that he was racing to the beach from his home in Alexandria, Port Alfred, after his wife reported that she couldn’t find their son at the beach.”

Lambinon said lifeguards found the child’s body in the lagoon.

“After all efforts to resuscitate the child were exhausted. The child was declared deceased by paramedics.”

An inquest docket had been opened.

“The NSRI is urging parents to have responsible adult supervision for their children on beaches and at inland waters,” said Lambinon. SAPA