**Search Continues for Missing Teenager as Divers Comb Coast Off Llandudno**
Emergency services remain engaged in an intense search along the Llandudno coastline for a 16-year-old boy who went missing last Saturday. The teenager, named Athrun, was last seen at West Shore Beach around 2pm on 10 May. His disappearance has sparked a major multi-agency response involving land, air, and sea teams.
Athrun, who was visiting the area from south Gloucestershire, was on holiday when he vanished near the boating lake and playpark. According to descriptions released by North Wales Police, he is approximately six feet tall, slim, with short dark hair, and may walk with a distinctive gait. On the day of his disappearance, he was wearing blue and white patterned swim shorts; he was not wearing the ear defenders shown in police-distributed images.
Since Saturday, extensive searches have been coordinated between various services, including the Coastguard, the National Police Air Service (NPAS), and the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA). Authorities have utilised specialist divers, drones, and helicopters to scour both the shoreline and the waters off Llandudno, striving to piece together Athrun’s last known movements.
In a statement earlier this week, North Wales Police urged the public to remain vigilant but stressed that attempts to carry out their own searches could place individuals at risk, as much of the area had already been combed by professionals. “We continue to treat this as a high-risk missing person enquiry and have devoted considerable resources to the investigation,” a spokesperson said, emphasising the involvement of various agencies.
Tuesday evening brought a potential breakthrough when NPAS crews reported what might be a body in the water off West Shore, sighted shortly after 7pm during aerial searches. Lifeboat teams from Conwy, Llandudno, and Rhyl, supported by the coastguard helicopter from Caernarfon, responded swiftly, but the onset of darkness and the challenging conditions made recovery efforts difficult.
Despite the presence of emergency teams well into the night, the search is ongoing. Police underwater search units have been seen working in cooperation with local coastguard officials, preparing further boat operations aimed at investigating the site where the body was potentially spotted.
On Wednesday, the fifth day since Athrun was last seen, divers remained active in the waters off Llandudno. The continuing presence of search teams in the area reflects the scale and complexity of the ongoing operation. Meanwhile, Athrun’s family has been informed about developments and are receiving support from police.
Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan of North Wales Police described the case as “extremely distressing,” particularly for Athrun’s loved ones. Expressing his gratitude for community support, he made a public appeal for sensitivity. “Speculation on social media is not only unhelpful but can be deeply upsetting for the family at this traumatic time,” he said. He also requested that people refrain from gathering at the beach, to respect both the investigation and the privacy of those affected.
At present, emergency services remain committed to the search. Authorities have reassured the public that every available resource is being utilised, with continued multi-agency collaboration. Updates are expected as new information emerges.