Scheveningen search intensifies for missing 18-year-old kitesurfer

Specialized police divers, arrest team divers, and police dogs have been deployed in the North Sea near Scheveningen to search for an 18-year-old kitesurfer who went missing on Sunday. The search was previously hampered by dangerous sea conditions, forcing earlier efforts to be aborted after only a few hours.

Authorities have transitioned the operation into a recovery mission, as police stated the chances of the individual being alive are slim. While the kitesurfer's board and kite were recovered on Tuesday, the individual remains missing. The search area at Zuidelijk Havenhoofd has been closed to the public and includes support from helicopters, drones, and the Coast Guard.

A representative for the family, via the organization Namens de Familie, stated that while the family remains between hope and fear, they are preparing for the worst.