Louis Price, from Newport in Wales, disappeared after diving with his father off Berry Head. Unsuccessful searches were carried out throughout the afternoon and evening by several RNLI lifeboats, Navy and Coastguard helicopters, a number of private craft and police divers.
Latest information from Devon and Cornwall Police is that Louis managed to surface with his father before sinking again, contradicting the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's earlier statement that, after the pair had ascended normally to 10m, Mr Price did not see his son reach the surface.
According to the police, Mr Price surfaced, followed shortly afterward by Louis. The people in the inflatable cover boat - Louis' mother, uncle and aunt - remembered, said the police, seeing the boy 'slightly tilted backwards as though his jacket was inflated'. He looked buoyant and showed 'no apparent signs of distress'.
When they could not start the inflatable's engine, the group were able to attract the attention of a nearby diving charter boat, Jennifer Ann. But as the boat made its way over to assist, it was realised that Louis had vanished.
Mr Price and his son were trained divers, added the police. It was unclear how Louis could have got into trouble after all appeared well at the surface.
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