A KITESURFER who sparked a manhunt when his kit was found drifting in Poole Harbour has come forward to re-claim it. target="_blank">Dorset Police and Poole RNLI's inshore life boat all joined in the search after the alarm was raised at around 4.20pm yesterday.

An abandoned kite and board were found at Salterns Marina, but no trace was found of the missing person.

The shoreline search, also involving Poole and Southbourne coastguards, was stood down at around 8.30pm.

Volunteers from Poole Kitesurfing Club were out looking over night.

Then at around 10am this morning, the owner of the white, orange and brown Brunotti board, and red and black Cabrina kite got in touch.

A spokeswoman for Portland Coastguard told the Daily Echo: "The kitesurfer has got in touch with the coastguard and is coming to pick up his kit. "We will speak to him and find out exactly what happened. For now, we are happy that the kit is his, we are happy that he abandoned it, for whatever reason, and is safe." Anyone who loses or abandons their kit should inform thh coastguard, Harbour control or Dorset Police, she added.