This is the first picture of a teenage boy who went missing at sea after playing with his friends off the coast on Thursday.
Matthew Sherrington, 14, was last seen when he was with pals in the water near shore in Headland, Hartlepool.
He vanished in the evening sparking a major search overnight but tragically Humber Coastguard have confirmed the hunt has now been scaled back after 13 hours.
They said they were no longer actively looking for the teenager as "survivability has been deemed no longer viable," reports Teesside Live.
However the local community has organised a number of its own searched for Matthew, determined to do all they can to help.
Cleveland Police have released a photo of the youngster to help ongoing efforts to find him but urged those conducting their own searches to stop for their own safety.
A spokesman said: "Police are conducting searches on the beach area of the Headland in Hartlepool today, Friday 16 th July, in a bid to find missing Matthew Sherrington aged 14.
"Matthew was reported missing to police yesterday, Thursday 15 th July. It was reported that Matthew had been playing in the sea and hasn’t been seen since this sighting.
"Officers immediately searched the beach and sea area along with Coastguard colleagues but have not managed to locate him.
"Police have been made aware of people organising their own searches and would ask for the public to refrain from doing so for their own safety.
"Officers are doing everything they can in a bid to find Matthew and would ask that people avoid the area to allow the team to carry out their enquiries.
