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Cries for help spark sea search | Cries for help spark sea search |
(40 minutes later) | |
A massive air and sea search is under way off the west Dorset coast after shouts for help were heard close to the harbour at Lyme Regis. | |
Portland Coastguard were alerted shortly after 2200 BST on Wednesday. | Portland Coastguard were alerted shortly after 2200 BST on Wednesday. |
The RNLI said "a number of people reported the shouts, and the search is focusing on the possibility that two canoeists may be missing". | The RNLI said "a number of people reported the shouts, and the search is focusing on the possibility that two canoeists may be missing". |
The pair were seen leaving the shore after dark. One later returned but went back out after hearing a call for help. | |
Police officers visited the house of a local canoeist known to make dusk trips out to sea and found his canoe missing, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said. | |
'No confirmation' | |
Nigel Robson, Portland Coastguard watch manager, said: "Although investigations have raised concerns for two canoeists witnessed leaving for a dusk paddle last night, we have no confirmation that they were the origin of the calls for help, or if indeed the calls came from someone who remains in danger. | |
"Our searches are still ongoing, involving a very large number of resources working in difficult weather, and we will continue with these air, land and sea-based searches until further notice." | |
The Lyme Coastguard Rescue Team, the Lyme inshore lifeboat and the independent inshore lifeboat from Sidmouth have been searching throughout the night. | |
As concern stepped up, the coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent, the all-weather lifeboat from Weymouth and an RAF helicopter from Chivenor joined in the search. | |
Nothing has yet been found and the West Bay Coastguard Rescue Team has now taken over from the Lyme team, who searched throughout the night. |