Press Notice No: 216-10
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Posted 11:24 GMT

A swimmer has just been located following a search which involved the Coastguard helicopter from Portland, Exmouth Coastguard Rescue Team, RNLI Exmouth inshore and all weather lifeboats, a Straight Point firing range craft and police.

Portland Coastguard received a phone call from a member of the public at 8.30 am this morning reporting that he had found a mans clothes, glasses, car keys and a towel on Budleigh Salterton beach at the high water line, but that there was no sign of a swimmer. Enquiries were made by coastguard rescue officers on scene and police, but no sign could be found of the missing swimmer. Police found the mans car in the car park and were able to trace the swimmers address, but no further information was forthcoming about his whereabouts.

With concern growing for the missing swimmer, Portland Coastguard made the decision to launch a full search for the man. A short time later a man was found swimming close to shore.

Ros Evans, Portland Coastguard Watch Manager says:

The swimmer was safe and well when we found him and had just been out for a morning swim.

If you are an early morning swimmer, please leave a note with your clothes to tell us that you are out swimming and roughly when you expect to come back. That way, we will not waste valuable resources searching for you and you can enjoy your early morning swim in peace.

A couple of months ago we launched a search in similar circumstances for a female swimmer. Sadly on that occasion, the woman had suffered a stroke in the water and could not be revived.


Posted By: Joanne Groenenberg

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401