Big Island fire rescue personnel were searching for a cruise ship employee who disappeared yesterday while swimming at Boiling Pots in Hilo.

In response to a 1:50 p.m. call, police responded to Boiling Pots, where Ryan J. Ritzel, 24, of Soquel, Calif. had been swimming with five coworkers, the Hawai'i County Police Department said. When his companions discovered he was missing, they called 911.

Ritzel is described as 5 feet 9, with a slim build, short brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing white and blue swimming trunks.

Fire Department personnel searched the area but had not found him as of yesterday evening.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311.