Hawaii County firefighters resumed the search for a possible missing bodyboarder at first light this morning.

Witnesses reported seeing a male bodyboarder in distress at Kaimu Beach, in front of the Kalapana Village Cafe at about 4 p.m. The bodyboarder went under in the white wash and resurfaced face down in the surf before witnesses lost sight of him, firefighters said.

Rescue workers searched the beach by air and land about a half-mile in each direction from the scene before the search was suspended because of darkness.