Police can confirm that the canoe and five men reported missing on Thursday 23 August have been traced.

The canoe was spotted shortly after 6.00am today approximately 150yds off Frank Sound. The Marine Unit deployed and the canoe was towed to shore.

The three West Bay men and two Jamaicans who were on board have been transported by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town for check-ups.

Police enquiries are ongoing.

Three West Bay men – James Michael Ebanks, Sidney Henry Ebanks and William Miguel Bush – were onboard the canoe when it left Grand Cayman on Sunday 19 August, heading for Jamaica. The purpose of the trip has not yet been established. It has been suggested that the other two men were Jamaican nationals.

On receipt of the report the RCIPS made contact with the US Coastguard, Jamaican authorities and informed passing vessels to be on the lookout for the canoe. An extensive sea and air search was immediately mounted utilising the RCIPS air and marine assets. The search pattern extended from Cayman Brac towards Jamaica.