[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-20880687

The 41-year-old was reported to have been walking his dog along the South Pier with another man when they ended up in the water shortly after midnight.

The second man was able to get to safety and raise the alarm.

An overnight search involving lifeboat crews, coastguard, the police helicopter and the RAF resumed just after first light.

Stuart Atkinson, watch manager at Crosby Coastguard station, said: "We received a call at 12:13 GMT from Lancashire Police reporting that a male was in the water near the South Pier at Blackpool.

"The area was searched and unfortunately we didn't find the 41-year-old male at that time, but we are carrying out a second search at the present time.

"We do believe a life ring was thrown to him and a football. We have located the football but not the life ring."

Mr Atkinson said the search operation was hampered last night due to very strong, westerly gale-force winds.

"As you can imagine, westerly winds are aimed straight at the sea shore at Blackpool and it made it quite difficult for the lifeboat crews to search," he said.

The current search was focusing on an area of the Irish Sea around the South Pier and the Blackpool sea wall.

The search was carried out by coastguard rescue units, the local RNLI lifeboats from Blackpool and Lytham St Annes and the police helicopter.

The air sea rescue helicopter from RAF Valley was also involved.

People, dogs and the sea are a dangerous combination .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-20880687

It is "highly unlikely" a man swept into the sea in gale-force winds in Blackpool has survived, coastguards have said.

HM Coastguard said a shoreline search for the man's body was continuing.

Stuart Atkinson, watch manager at Crosby Coastguard station, said the strong, westerly gale-force winds made the operation difficult.

He added the conditions, water temperature and length of time in the water made it "highly unlikely" the man could have survived.

"From the information we received, we must unfortunately presume the man went into the water and there is nothing to suggest at this stage that he made it to shore," Mr Atkinson said.

"Therefore the sea search has now been terminated and we are now in the process of searching the shoreline for a body."

A search of the coast and beaches was focusing on an area around the South Pier and the Blackpool sea wall.

The incident comes just before the 30th anniversary of the drowning of three Blackpool police officers who died trying to save a Scottish holidaymaker who had gone into the sea near Gynn Square to rescue his dog.

PCs Angela Bradley, Gordon Connolly, Colin Morrison drowned trying to rescue Alistair Anthony on 5 January 1983.

[Petershaw1984]

Sad for his family

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-20886164

The search for a man swept into the sea during gale-force winds has been called off, the coastguard has confirmed.

The coastguard said the man's body had not been found after a search along the shore at low tide.

A spokesman said: "We have covered every possible angle and it's now in the hands of the police."

The BBC understands Prince William was the pilot of an RAF Sea King helicopter involved in the search on New Year's Day.

The rescue helicopter from RAF Valley in Anglesey provided lighting assistance for the search teams.

Rescue teams focused on an area of the Irish Sea around Blackpool's south pier and sea wall and earlier searched under the piers.

The body will probably turn up further south .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-21251507

A man's body has been found off Fleetwood beach, police have said.

Police said although formal identification has yet to take place, they believe it to be Paul Morris.

The body drifted north .....

[Nedusa]

Why would you take your Dog for a walk along a Pier in the middle of a Gale ? Seems a little risky, better to walk along the shore/beach keeping a safe distance from the waters edge.

I wonder if the Dog was swept away and he went in to rescue it ??

Shame either way...!!!

[Nedusa]

Why was the Pier open to the public during those extreme weather conditions especially if there was any likelihood of anyone actually being swept off the pier. It seems far too dangerous to just leave the Pier open...!!