A teenager drowned at a beach on Hong Kong’s southern Lantau Island on Saturday afternoon while a warning over big waves was in force.

Police received a report from a friend of the teenager at 5.51pm saying he was believed to have drowned at Lower Cheung Sha Beach.

He went missing at one point and was unconscious by the time he was rescued, the force said, without giving his exact age. The teen stopped breathing while being taken to North Lantau Hospital and was certified dead before 8pm. The force is looking into the incident.

The teen was taken to North Lantau Hospital, where he was certified dead.

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the southern part of the city experienced strong southern to southeastern winds in the afternoon.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department raised a red flag due to the large waves at Lower Cheung Sha Beach and two others, advising residents not to swim.