A swimmer attempting to cross the English Channel has been reported missing. French Authorities have carried out extensive searches of the area but have been unable to find them.
The swimmer, firefighter Iain Hughes, 42, went missing yesterday of Cap Gris-Nez in France, according to KentLive. The area is a cape on the Côte d'Opale, in the Calais region of France, the closest point to England.
The Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation (CSPF) said: "The CSPF deeply regret to announce that a solo swimmer who was attempting a crossing of the English Channel on June 20, 2023, is being reported as missing in action. Following a sea search, the swimmer was unable to be found.
"No further information is currently available."
In a statement, West Midlands Fire Service said: "We are heartbroken to confirm that one of our crew managers, Iain Hughes, is missing after his inspiring attempt to swim the English Channel for charity."
Mr Hughes, a married father-of-two who has been with the fire service since the age of 19, currently works in its technical rescue unit.
The Prefet Maritime De La Manche Et De La Mer Du Nord, the French coastguard, confirmed that it had launched a search and rescue operation but had yet to find the swimmer. It said: "On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the Gris-Nez Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centre (CROSS) was informed of the disappearance, off Cap Gris-Nez, of a professional swimmer crossing the English Channel.
"After analyzing the situation, the CROSS Gris-Nez broadcasted a mayday relay message and engaged several means to search for and rescue the missing person:
- The Dauphin helicopter of the French Navy, based in Le Touquet
- The Belgian NH90 helicopter, based in Coxyde (Belgium)
- The Flamant public service patrol boat (PSP) of the French Navy
- The maritime surveillance coastal launch (VCSM) Aber Ildut of the Maritime Gendarmerie
- The all-weather dinghy Notre-Dame-du-Risban from the SNSM station in Calais
"Without additional information and the probable sector of disappearance having been fully investigated for several hours, the maritime prefect of the Channel and the North Sea, on the proposal of CROSS Gris-Nez, decided to interrupt the search by directed means."
