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| Missing Hollie McClymont: Barry Island sea search suspended by coastguards | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The family of a missing 14-year-old girl last seen in difficulty in the sea at a south Wales resort have said they are "worried sick". | The family of a missing 14-year-old girl last seen in difficulty in the sea at a south Wales resort have said they are "worried sick". |
| Hollie McClymont, on holiday with her family from Glasgow, was reported missing at Barry Island just after 15:45 BST on Sunday. | |
| Coastguards carried out an "extensive" air and sea search off Whitmore Bay on Sunday but it was suspended on Monday. | Coastguards carried out an "extensive" air and sea search off Whitmore Bay on Sunday but it was suspended on Monday. |
| Hollie had been visiting Barry Island with her mother Sarah and family. | Hollie had been visiting Barry Island with her mother Sarah and family. |
| Her cousin Shannon said: "You never ever think something like this will happen to someone in your family. | Her cousin Shannon said: "You never ever think something like this will happen to someone in your family. |
| "We're worried sick and really hope Hollie turns up safe and sound." | "We're worried sick and really hope Hollie turns up safe and sound." |
| The search resumed on Monday involving Barry and Penarth coastguard teams, police officers and the force helicopter. | The search resumed on Monday involving Barry and Penarth coastguard teams, police officers and the force helicopter. |
| But on Monday evening Swansea Coastguard confirmed they had concluded their search. | But on Monday evening Swansea Coastguard confirmed they had concluded their search. |
| 'Jam-packed' beach | 'Jam-packed' beach |
| David Jones, the duty watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, said: "Basically, at the moment, the coastguard has completed the low water search so from our point of view we have now suspended searching and formally handed over to South Wales Police. | David Jones, the duty watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, said: "Basically, at the moment, the coastguard has completed the low water search so from our point of view we have now suspended searching and formally handed over to South Wales Police. |
| "We have exhausted efforts searching the sea. There is nothing to suggest that she was in the water and nothing to suggest she was not in the water. | "We have exhausted efforts searching the sea. There is nothing to suggest that she was in the water and nothing to suggest she was not in the water. |
| "As far as we are concerned the sea search element of the operation is complete." | "As far as we are concerned the sea search element of the operation is complete." |
| He added: "We just hope that if she is found it will be alive and on land. It is now a police missing persons investigation." | He added: "We just hope that if she is found it will be alive and on land. It is now a police missing persons investigation." |
| South Wales Police said the last sighting of Hollie was in the sea at around 14:45 BST on Sunday in the part of the bay nearest the Island Leisure Amusement arcade, Western Shelter. | South Wales Police said the last sighting of Hollie was in the sea at around 14:45 BST on Sunday in the part of the bay nearest the Island Leisure Amusement arcade, Western Shelter. |
| Supt Marc Lamerton said he was "keen to hear from anyone who may have seen Hollie yesterday". | Supt Marc Lamerton said he was "keen to hear from anyone who may have seen Hollie yesterday". |
| Police have also been handling out leaflets about Hollie to holidaymakers visiting Barry Island. | Police have also been handling out leaflets about Hollie to holidaymakers visiting Barry Island. |
| Earlier they revealed they were also carrying out house-to-house inquiries in Barry. | Earlier they revealed they were also carrying out house-to-house inquiries in Barry. |
| On Sunday, Barry coastguard team, the Barry Dock all-weather lifeboat, two inshore lifeboats from Penarth, police, lifeguards and a coastguard helicopter from Portland were involved in the land and sea search. | On Sunday, Barry coastguard team, the Barry Dock all-weather lifeboat, two inshore lifeboats from Penarth, police, lifeguards and a coastguard helicopter from Portland were involved in the land and sea search. |
| Police said the incident had been reported to a police community support officer (PCSO) patrolling Barry Island. | Police said the incident had been reported to a police community support officer (PCSO) patrolling Barry Island. |
| Coastguards said it was up to an hour before the situation was reported to them. | Coastguards said it was up to an hour before the situation was reported to them. |
| David Hughes, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, told BBC Radio Wales on Monday he was surprised that more people had not alerted them to an incident on a "jam-packed" beach. | David Hughes, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, told BBC Radio Wales on Monday he was surprised that more people had not alerted them to an incident on a "jam-packed" beach. |
| "We only had one call reporting this female in difficulties which I find very very hard to believe," he said. | "We only had one call reporting this female in difficulties which I find very very hard to believe," he said. |
| "On a normal day, busy day, we would have expected to be inundated with 999 calls but only the one call put through unfortunately." | "On a normal day, busy day, we would have expected to be inundated with 999 calls but only the one call put through unfortunately." |
| Mr Hughes also said the nature of the rescue effort had also changed. | Mr Hughes also said the nature of the rescue effort had also changed. |
| "The conditions yesterday would have been favourable," he said. | "The conditions yesterday would have been favourable," he said. |
| "The sea temperature had picked up dramatically over the last month or so because of the weather, change in temperature, but obviously we have to look at survivability." | "The sea temperature had picked up dramatically over the last month or so because of the weather, change in temperature, but obviously we have to look at survivability." |
| Local councillor Steffan Wiliam, who lives on Barry Island, said he was "very concerned" to hear the news. | Local councillor Steffan Wiliam, who lives on Barry Island, said he was "very concerned" to hear the news. |
| "Our stretch of coast has the world's second highest tidal range, second only to the Bay of Fundy [in Canada]," he said. | "Our stretch of coast has the world's second highest tidal range, second only to the Bay of Fundy [in Canada]," he said. |
| "The main issue is that Whitmore Bay is a pocket shape. You have to be careful but it is generally very safe, particularly now we have lifeguards. | "The main issue is that Whitmore Bay is a pocket shape. You have to be careful but it is generally very safe, particularly now we have lifeguards. |
| "If you swim between the two strips of flags you should be fine. You always have to be sensible on the beaches here." | "If you swim between the two strips of flags you should be fine. You always have to be sensible on the beaches here." |
| Hollie is described as 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, of average build with long black hair. | Hollie is described as 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, of average build with long black hair. |
| She was last seen wearing a multi-coloured dress, short at the front and longer at the back. | She was last seen wearing a multi-coloured dress, short at the front and longer at the back. |
| South Wales Police said anyone with information can contact 101 or 01656 655 555. | South Wales Police said anyone with information can contact 101 or 01656 655 555. |