Guest 732- Registered: 8 Nov 2011
- Posts: 128
#1
Dover life boat and Tug Dauntless are out searching the harbour for a missing swimmer 20-15 hrs, helicopter is on route.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
#2
I heard and saw a search and rescue helicopter fly in the direction of the harbour a few minutes ago, let's hope that they find the swimmer in time.
Guest 761- Registered: 10 Jul 2012
- Posts: 115
#3
Heard the Helicopter too - really hope this turns out ok, wind is picking up too...
Guest 732- Registered: 8 Nov 2011
- Posts: 128
#4
Search now over, missing swimmer not located.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#5
At about 8.45 pm a helicopter flew towards the harbour and was circling for about three quarters of an hour above the waters, and coastguards were looking from the promenade with torches onto the beaches.
A neighbour informed me that a person in a diver's suit was missing.
Let's hope the swimmer made it to a stretch of coast somewhere.
Guest 717- Registered: 16 Jun 2011
- Posts: 468
#6
Real story:
A couple of reports that a swimmer (not diver) in the harbour looked as though they were in difficulty and there was uncertainty as to whether they got out the water or not.
Dover Lifeboat
DHB Tug
Port of Dover Police Rib
Helicopter with thermal imaging involved in a thorough search of harbour and outside. No person found during search.
Keeps politics to myself
Guest 717- Registered: 16 Jun 2011
- Posts: 468
#7
Just been tweeted by coastguard;
Dover Coastguard is appealing for information about the whereabouts of a swimmer thought to be missing in or around Dover Harbour this evening.
The Coastguard received a call from a member of the public at 7.00 pm this evening to report that the person had been seen swimming out towards the harbour entrance and had then disappeared from view.
Dover Coastguard instructed the Langdon Coastguard Rescue Team to begin a shoreline search. Dover RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch and was joined in its search by the Police Boat 'Delta 99' and the harbour tug 'Dauntless'. An RAF rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham was also scrambled and began a search using its forward looking infrared camera.
Dover Coastguard Watch Manager Tony Guy says:
"We searched the area both inside and outside the harbour this evening for three hours, but by 10.00 pm we had saturated the area and had found no sign of the missing swimmer. The decision was therefore taken to terminate the search. The swimmer was last seen wearing a pink swimming hat and swimming out towards the harbour entrance. If you have any information about the possible whereabouts of the missing swimmer please call us on 01304 210008."
Keeps politics to myself
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#8
Thanks for getting this news up fast guys.
Yes saw this taking place last night but wasnt sure what was afoot. Interesting there Helen about the helicopter..was wondering why it was so high..but of course using thermal imaging. I remember when it used to come right town to level with my floor here as it made its way along the waters edge looking for...well.
It was a very dark night so no pictures from me, and it was difficult for the teams searching. Lets hope, as the guys say above there, for a good outcome.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
#9
Yes, heard the helicopter fly right over our roof, had a quick look on the forum and saw that Vince had posted about a missing swimmer. Lets hope and pray that there is a good outcome and as Alexander has posted above, that the swimmer did make it to a stretch of coastline safely.
Guest 717- Registered: 16 Jun 2011
- Posts: 468
#10
Agreed Colette. I think the coastguard are hoping the word will spread and the swimmer in question will come forward having got out the water. Eliminating any worry.
Keeps politics to myself
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#11
I know this might sound daft but was the " pink swimming hat" actually verified as a swimmer rather than a pink ball or similar, I certainly hope nothing awful has happened.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#12
Such things have to be considered Jan, as have clothes pile on the sand,'abandoned' car etc.,but when the call goes out it's assumed voracity cannot be underplayed.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
#13
Very clever Jan - that never occurred to me. I hope you're right. It wouldn't be the first time an ordinary piece of whatever has been mistaken for something else. Let's keep everything crossed thats what it was.
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
Guest 717- Registered: 16 Jun 2011
- Posts: 468
#14
Jan it was definitely a person in the water swimming. There was just worry that that person did not get out.
Keeps politics to myself
Guest 717- Registered: 16 Jun 2011
- Posts: 468
#15
Whoops don't know how I posted that twice!
Keeps politics to myself