Hopes fading for ferry jump boy, 16

A SERIES of tragedies across Britain marred the start to 2013.

Coastguards yesterday called off the search for Jordan Cobb, 16, who was seen jumping off the Torpoint ferry and disappearing into the chilly River Tamar at Plymouth on New Year’s Eve.

The teenager was with a group of friends who were in “high spirits” – and police have not ruled out the possibility that the plunge was part of a dare.

Fiona Iris, from Brixham Coastguard, said: “Unfortunately, with the amount of time this person has been missing, their chance of survival is very, very low.”

In Blackpool, coastguards said last night a 41- year- old man swept out to sea by a huge wave was “highly unlikely” to have survived.

He had been walking along the beach in the early hours yesterday with a friend and a dog.

Dennis Airdrie, who witnessed the rescue attempt, said: “When the seas were lit up, you realised it was like a cauldron out there.” The New Year festivities were also tarnished by four stabbings – one of which left a 21- year- old man dead at Sittingbourne, Kent.

There was tragedy on the roads when a man was hit by a BMW car and killed at Maidstone, Kent. A woman companion remains in a life- threatening condition – and a man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Part of the M27 near Southampton was closed after a man jumped to his death from a bridge.

Missing: Jordan Cobb, 16