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| Search for teenager last seen in sea off Whitmore Bay, Barry Island | Search for teenager last seen in sea off Whitmore Bay, Barry Island |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A major air and sea search is due to resume for a missing 14-year-old girl, last seen in difficulty in the sea at a south Wales resort. | |
| The girl, on holiday with her family, was reported missing in Barry Island just after 15:45 BST on Sunday. | |
| Coastguards say there has been an "extensive search" off Whitmore Bay. | Coastguards say there has been an "extensive search" off Whitmore Bay. |
| Swansea Coastguard says a "low water search" will be carried out between 09:00 and 10:00 BST in rock pools that form when the tide is out. | |
| Meanwhile, South Wales Police say they are carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the Barry area. | |
| Three lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter joined lifeguards and police at the resort on Sunday. | |
| Inspector Bob Nicholls of South Wales Police said the teenager was in the water with friends when she got into difficulty. | Inspector Bob Nicholls of South Wales Police said the teenager was in the water with friends when she got into difficulty. |
| "She was in the water with friends," he said. | "She was in the water with friends," he said. |
| "We believe she has got into some difficulty and we are looking for her at the moment. | "We believe she has got into some difficulty and we are looking for her at the moment. |
| "The coastguard has got three boats launched, South Wales Police helicopter and the search and rescue helicopter have been deployed. | "The coastguard has got three boats launched, South Wales Police helicopter and the search and rescue helicopter have been deployed. |
| "Numerous resources on foot have been deployed for the search." | "Numerous resources on foot have been deployed for the search." |
| Insp Nicholls added: "She was on holiday in the area. Her parents are aware and with officers at the moment." | Insp Nicholls added: "She was on holiday in the area. Her parents are aware and with officers at the moment." |
| 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. | |
| Coastguards believe the girl could have been in difficulty in the water for up to an hour before the situation was reported to them. | Coastguards believe the girl could have been in difficulty in the water for up to an hour before the situation was reported to them. |
| Steve Jones, rescue centre manager for HM Coastguard Swansea said: "The incident was reported to us at 15.54 but we believe she could have been in trouble in the water up to an hour before then. | Steve Jones, rescue centre manager for HM Coastguard Swansea said: "The incident was reported to us at 15.54 but we believe she could have been in trouble in the water up to an hour before then. |
| 'Pocket shape' | 'Pocket shape' |
| "We had a report that a fisherman saw her. | "We had a report that a fisherman saw her. |
| "We are dumbfounded that something wasn't said to us earlier and are investigating but our main priority is the search, which is massive." | "We are dumbfounded that something wasn't said to us earlier and are investigating but our main priority is the search, which is massive." |
| 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," he said. | "Our stretch of coast has the world's second highest tidal range, second only to the Bay of Fundy," 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." |
| Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns said: "The RNLI operation is exceptionally efficient at Barry. | Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns said: "The RNLI operation is exceptionally efficient at Barry. |
| "It has all of the latest equipment with significant investment there in recent years from the search equipment to the skills and experience of the operators." | "It has all of the latest equipment with significant investment there in recent years from the search equipment to the skills and experience of the operators." |
| The missing girl is described as being 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, average build with long black hair. | The missing girl is described as being 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, average build with long black hair. |
| She was last seen wearing a multi-coloured dress. | She was last seen wearing a multi-coloured dress. |
| South Wales Police said anyone with information should contact 101. | South Wales Police said anyone with information should contact 101. |