KOTA KINABALU: A search and rescue operation for a man missing in waters off Likas was called off after it was found that he was safe and sound at his home on Sunday morning.

       The 52-year-old Hendry Ritis Bailus was reported missing at 2am on Sunday (April 14) by his friends after he failed to emerge from a dive to catch fish at the Likas Bay area at around 8.30pm on Saturday (April 13).

       Unknown to his friends, Hendry had emerged from the dive and headed back home without their knowledge.

       The friends, who were unable to find him, alerted the rescue services who launched a search in the bay area for Hendry.

       Sabah Fire and Rescue Department operations centre officer Riki Mohan Singh Ramday said that the search was called off at 8.32am (Sunday) after they received a report from a member of the public that he was safe.

       He said that Hendry had also gone to the Kota Kinabalu City police headquarters to confirm that he was safe.

       Hendry, a Filipino, was said to be diving for fish with 14 of his friends in the waters of Tanjung Lipat, here.

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       However, only 14 people emerged from the dives while another (Hendry) could not be located by his friends prompting firemen, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Civil Defence Force personnel to carry out a search.