Lifeguard recounts off-duty rescue of teen lost at sea off Hawaii

A lifeguard fought back tears as he described rescuing a teenager who was lost at sea off Hawaii in his kayak for nearly 12 hours.

Noland Keaulana was off-duty when he got a text from his wife saying that the 17-year-old son of a friend was missing.

Mr Keaulana commandeered a boat and eventually found the boy after he became separated from his group.

“I was actually crying my guts off because he was okay”, he said.

The US Coast Guard used planes, boats and drones to look for the boy, who was treated for “exhaustion, dehydration, exertion and cold exposure”, according to Honolulu EMS paramedics.