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Nine-Hour Hunt After Man Enters Stormy Waters
26 Oct
Summary
- Man entered the sea during Storm Austen after leaving a hotel.
- A nine-hour multi-agency search operation was conducted.
- Challenging sea and weather conditions hampered the search efforts.
A significant search and rescue operation unfolded in Torbay when a man was seen entering the sea during Storm Austen. The incident began on Friday afternoon, with CCTV footage showing the man departing a hotel in minimal clothing. This prompted an immediate and extensive nine-hour search effort involving multiple agencies.
RNLI Torbay, the coastguard, and police collaborated to comb the waters and shoreline near Goodrington. The operation, which lasted nine hours, faced severe challenges due to the storm's intensity. Winds reached force eight, creating turbulent seas and poor visibility, which severely impacted the crews' ability to locate anyone in or near the water.
During the night, searches extended to various offshore and coastal areas. A subsequent daylight search was also conducted on Saturday morning, with volunteers braving driving rain and strong winds. Despite the comprehensive efforts and the dedication of the rescue teams, no individual was found. The operation concluded with no conclusive outcome, highlighting the dangerous conditions presented by Storm Austen.
