UPDATE: Dorset Police says the search has been called off, after a body of a man was found at around 12.35 pm on Tuesday 23rd June 2020, in the water near to Man O’ War beach. While the body has yet to be formally identified, it’s believed to be that of the man who went missing.
A man in his 20’s who disappeared when he was swimming near Durdle Door in Dorset yesterday afternoon, still hasn’t been located despite an extensive multi-agency search operation.
HM Coastguard said that the alarm was raised at 5.45 pm on Sunday 21st June 2020 when it received a 999 call from a member of the public who said his brother had gone under the water and disappeared while swimming near Durdle Door.
Large scale search
Once on the scene a large scale search was carried out in the area where the man was last seen, involving two coastguard rescue helicopters from Lee on Solent and St Athan, Weymouth’s RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats, along with the Weymouth, Kimmeridge and Wyke Coastguard Rescue Teams.
Dorset Police, the ambulance service and the Lulworth Estates Security were also involved in the operation.
Swanage Lifeboat crew launched and headed towards Lulworth
Swanage lifeboat crew also initially went to assist in the search, as the Weymouth Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was already involved in a separate incident. The Swanage Lifeboat crew launched and headed towards Lulworth in choppy conditions. However as the lifeboat approached St Alban’s Head, the Weymouth ILB became free from the other incident and was able to join the search, allowing the Swanage crew to return to base.
It was reported that the missing young man from London, was one of three who had set out to swim to some rocks near to Durdle Door and on the way back to shore one of them went missing.
The search continued until 10 pm yesterday evening when it was called off for the night.
“Thoughts obviously go to family and friends at this difficult time”
Kimmeridge Coastguard said:
“With failing light and after searching all evening the search was suspended for the night and sadly the person still remains missing. Our thoughts obviously go to family and friends at this difficult time.”
Chief Inspector Stu Pitman, of Dorset Police, said:
“Searches are continuing today in the area to try and locate the missing man. I would urge anyone with information that may assist our enquiries to please get in touch.”
Anyone with information or knowledge as to the missing swimmer’s whereabouts is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 21:331.
