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Cries for help spark sea search Cries for help spark sea search
(40 minutes later)
A large air and sea search is under way off the west Dorset coast after shouts for help were reported close to the harbour at Lyme Regis. 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 are said to have left the shore after dark but nobody has been reported missing. The pair were seen leaving the shore after dark. One later returned but went back out after hearing a call for help.
The RNLI Lyme Regis lifeboat, the independent lifeboat from Sidmouth and the coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent are taking part in the search. 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.
The RNLI all-weather lifeboat from Weymouth also joined the operation in the morning but so far nothing has been found. 'No confirmation'
The first reports were of shouts for help from the seaward side to the west of the high wall of Lyme Regis Harbour. 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.
Later the coastguard received reports that two canoeists had gone out and were last seen west of the harbour. "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.