An eight-year-old boy drowned while swimming in the Mzamba lagoon near the Wild Coast Sun, Port Edward, on Saturday afternoon.

The National Sea Rescue Institute was activated after lifeguards reported a drowning in the lagoon.

Police search and rescue divers and NSRI rescue swimmers searched the water while the NSRI jet ski was also deployed, NSRI Port Edward Station Commander John Nicholas said in a statement.

“During an extensive search operation police search and rescue divers located and recovered the body of the child from the water and sadly the child…[had] been declared deceased by paramedics.”

Police have opened an inquest docket.

“Condolences are conveyed to family and police are assisting the family,” Nicholas said.