Emergency services have confirmed the search for a missing swimmer in New Brighton has been suspended.
Police, Coastguard, RNLI and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service had been searching the water, off the Wirral coast, for almost 24 hours after reports a person had gone missing. The search was launched at around 10.30pm on Tuesday, when another swimmer was able to make it back to shore safely and raised the alarm.
A spokesperson for the RNLI said a lifeboat and hovercraft were sent out as part of the search. This morning saw a number of emergency services still at the scene looking for the swimmer, who they have confirmed is a man.
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In their most recent update, a spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed the search for the man was suspended.
They said: “We have carried out an extensive search across the area and the missing person has – sadly - not been found. The search is now being suspended.
"Our thoughts and those of all our coastguard colleagues are with the family and friends of the missing man.”
A spokesperson from the RNLI also confirmed this, as they told The ECHO: "Hoylake’s Shannon class RNLI lifeboat was re-launched this afternoon to continue a search for the missing swimmer. The volunteer crew were paged at 2.33pm and the lifeboat searched an area around the Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm.
"The coastguard helicopter based at Caernarfon was also tasked. Both assets have now been stood down."
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