Tragic search ends: Missing boy (7) found dead!

A 7-YEAR-OLD boy went missing after a hunting trip with friends.

Residents of the Coto Manor shacks in KZN sprang into action as soon as the news broke.

The community came together, rolling their sleeves to search for the boy.

Tragically, the search for Phumelela Ntlooa, which lasted three to five hours, ended in heartbreak as the young boy was found dead.

His body was discovered by residents in a river in Cato Manor on Monday, 7 April, after he was reported missing on Sunday, 6 April.

Phumelela had been hunting in the bush in Cato Manor, Durban, along with three friends and several dogs.

While navigating the dense bush, he suddenly separated from the group and disappeared.

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Although his friends managed to return home safely, Phumelela got lost in the thicket, prompting a search that began on Sunday and carried on into Monday, when his body was found.

Prem Balram, spokesman for Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), confirmed that a helicopter carried out an extensive three to five hours search for the missing boy at 10am on Monday, 7 April.

He said his clothes were later identified on a riverbank.

"The Pilot and Crew searched along the river. Then, they identified a pool that could possibly be the area of drowning. His body was located shortly afterwards at the bottom of the plunge pool and removed by a community member," he said.

The KZN police spokesman, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said that the police in Cato Manor opened an inquest docket for investigation following the discovery of the body of a seven-year-old boy who was reported missing on Sunday, 6 April.

"Reports indicate that the boy went swimming with friends and got into difficulties and drowned. His body was recovered in the river on Monday, 7 April," he said.