A 17-year-old British teenager died after being pulled unconscious from the sea at the Kladissos beach near the Cretan port city of Chania (Hania) on Friday.

The teenager had earlier been reported missing, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation in the coastal area.

According to local press reports, a red warning flag had been raised at the beach because of strong winds and hazardous sea conditions.

The search involved two Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessels, a vessel operated by the European Union’s border agency Frontex and numerous private boats.

Lifeguards eventually located and recovered the teen’s body from the water unconscious. First aid and CPR were administered at the scene before an ambulance transported him to a nearby hospital.

The incident occurred as strong winds affected parts of Crete and the southern Aegean.