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The family of a 15-year-old Polish boy swept out to sea by a giant wave in the Canaries a week ago have urged the authorities to continue the search for him despite fears he is no longer alive.

The teenager, called Arek, was looking for crabs and shellfish with his young cousin at the Charco del Viento rock pools in La Guancha, north Tenerife, when the pair were hit by the wave and knocked over into the sea.

His father rushed to their aid but could only manage to grab hold of the 5-year-old girl in the water and pull her to safety, while Arek was dragged out to sea by the strong current. Through Canarias – 1500km de costa, an association that was created to help prevent accidents in the waters around the Canaries, the distraught family – who were enjoying a winter holiday in Tenerife when the tragedy happened – have called for the search to locate Arek to continue.

The family were unaware that weather warnings had been issued for the Canaries on the day in question, including advice to steer clear of exposed coastal parts due to the prospect of waves of up to 4 metres.

Speaking through the association, the teenagers mother thanked the emergency services and search and rescue teams for their tireless work since 22 February but urged the efforts to continue. ‘We know he will never again be able to give us a hug and say goodnight as he always did, but we want to find him and take him home. He is out there somewhere waiting for us to reach him’ said his distraught mother, Kasia.