RSPCA man ‘swept out to sea as he saved birds’

A MISSING RSPCA inspector was last night feared dead as a sea search was called off. Mike Reid, 54, was caught up in stormy weather on Sunday as he tried to rescue up to 30 injured gannets from rocks off the coast of Cornwall. The father-of-three’s family reported him missing at 6am yesterday when he failed to return from his night shift. A major search operation was launched between the RSPCA, the police and the Coastguard. But there was no sign of Mr Reid at Porthchapel Beach near Land’s End. Last night his distraught wife Tracey, 45, said she feared the worst. Speaking from the family home in Redruth, she added: ‘He was on a job and it looks like he may have fallen from a cliff and gone into the sea. That is what we think has happened but we just don’t know.’ She added: ‘He loves animals and would do anything to rescue them. We are all devastated and feeling numb.’ Mr Reid had been with the animal charity for 35 years. Lee Hopgood, the RSPCA’s operational superintendent in the South West, said: ‘Mike is everyone’s friend and we are desperate to find him. ‘We just hope there is a happy outcome but we are all desperately worried.’ Mr Hopgood added: ‘He’s from the Wirral and has a big booming laugh. He is well known and loved.’ Mr Reid, whose white van was found at the nearby Minack Theatre car park, was wearing black trousers, a white shirt and black jumper. Inspector Jean Phillips, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: ‘We are extremely concerned for Mike’s welfare, particularly with the wet and windy weather overnight.’ Dermot Murphy, the RSPCA’s Assistant Director for the Inspectorate, said: ‘We are extremely concerned. ‘He has not been seen since he responded to a call to our National Control Centre about stricken birds yesterday.’