Published: June 24, 2009
Latest: Search continues for missing swimmers north of Brean Down

A team of Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards and local lifeboats are continuing to search for two missing swimmers who went missing in the sea north of Brean Down on Tuesday evening (June 23rd).

An RAF helicopter and lifeboats from Weston and Burnham also joined in the rescue operation overnight after the men were reported to be missing at around 9pm.

The swimmers, who are both in their 30s, had been spotted struggling in the water after getting into the water near Birnbeck Pier.

Burnham Coastguard Station Officer Steve Bird told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "The men had entered the water while their girlfriends remained on the beach. Screams of help had been heard from the water shortly before the pair went missing."

Both Burnham's lifeboats were launched at around midnight to join the search but no sign of the missing men was found and the operation scaled down at 3am.

The initial call to the Coastguard was made just after 9pm, and by 9.13pm the two men were believed to have been swept half a mile offshore and were heard still shouting for help.

As sunlight faded, two flares were fired from the beach by the Coastguard in an effort to light the scene.

Eric Birkett, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, said: "Further flares were fired just after 11.30pm in order to light areas of mud in which two men could possibly be trapped, but no sightings of the men have yet been made."

Meanwhile, police have been making inquiries inland in case the two missing men came out of the water further along the coast and decided to head for home.

The search for the pair resumed at first light on Wednesday (June 24th).

RELATED LINKS:

Coastguard website for Burnham-On-Sea
Lifeboats website for Burnham-On-Sea