A woman in her 20s who didn’t resurface after diving from a boat near Old Harry in Swanage Bay, sparked a full scale search including Swanage Lifeboat and coastguard teams.
The emergency services were alerted by the dive boat at around 6 pm on Tuesday 23rd July 2024.
The coastguard helicopter continued to search into the night along with the Swanage lifeboat
Multi agency response
Both Swanage lifeboats – the larger all weather boat and the inflatable D Class vessel – launched and headed to the location near to Old Harry, where they were also joined by the Poole Lifeboat.
The Coastguard helicopters from Lee on Solent and St Athan in Wales were called in to help with the search, as well as the Swanage coastguard teams.
The Lee-on-Solent coastguard helicopter searched the whole area as the Barfleur ferry made its way through the search area at around 9 pm on Tuesday 23rd July 2024
The Barfleur ferry makes its way back into Poole Harbour
Search resumed at daybreak
The search continued into the night and resumed at 6.30 am on Wednesday 24th July 2024 with the crew from Yarmouth lifeboat from the Isle of Wight taking over from the Swanage lifeboat crew who had worked into the night.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said:
“Officers are assisting the coastguard, which is currently leading on the search operation, and we have been carrying out a number of enquiries, however, the diver has not been located at this time.
“The diver’s family has been informed.”
The search was called off by HM Coastguard at 6 pm on Wednesday 24th July 2024 following consultation with the diver’s family and Dorset Police.
Throughout the evening and into the night the Swanage all weather lifeboat 13-13 searched the bay
At daybreak the Yarmouth lifeboat 17-25 resumed the search
