POLICE yesterday rescued a man from his capsized boat after he went missing several hours before in the seas off Larnaca.

Yiannis Ptohopoulos, 30, had gone diving with his friend Yiannis Mentonis at 7pm on Thurdsay.

Metonis dove into the sea some three kilometres off the coast while Ptohopoulos stayed on the boat waiting.

When Metonis came up around 30 minutes later, both Ptohopoulos and the boat had gone.

Metonis swam back, reaching the coast at around midnight.

He notified authorities who launched a sea, air and land search and rescue operation to locate Ptohopoulos.

He was spotted some five hours later sitting on his capsized boat around four kilometres west of the port of Larnaca.

Ptohopoulos was picked up by a police patrol boat taking part in the search.

He was taken to hospital where he was kept for observation.