Praise for lifeguards who searched for tragic boys
VOLUNTEER lifeguards were praised after helping in the search for two boys who lost their lives in the Irish Sea.
Rescue workers from the independent Southport Lifeboat charity joined the RNLI, HM Coastguard, North West Ambulance Service and Lancashire Police after the two teenagers became lost at sea on Saturday.
Muhammad Azhar Shabbir, 18, and Ali Athar Shabbir, 16, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, were last seen close to St Annes Pier in Lytham St Annes on Saturday evening.
Their 15-year-old cousin, also from Dewsbury, managed to swim to the shore and was taken to hospital.
Police were alerted at 6.55pm after concerns for their safety and a joint rescue operation was launched, with Southport Lifeboat assisting until the search was called off at 1.40am due to there not being enough light.
Southport Lifeboat recovered at 2:20am and refuelled before relaunching with a new crew at 05:00 to resume the search at first light.
Following a further five and a half hours of searching, the search on the water was called off with nothing found.
At 2.50pm on Sunday, the quad and UAV teams set off on a tideline search of the beach from Southport beach north towards Lytham.
On Sunday police confirmed that HM Coastguard and RNLI colleagues found two bodies just after 3.15pm, about a mile from the pier.
A police spokeswoman said: “Whilst they have yet to be formally identified they are believed to be Muhammad and Ali Shabbir.
“Their family have been notified and are continuing to be supported by a specially trained officer.
“Our thoughts and condolences remain with them at this incredibly distressing time.
“Thanks again to our colleagues at HM Coastguard, the RNLI and the National Police Air Service for helping the search to find Muhammad and Ali, as well as everyone who has sent kind words.”
On Monday, Southport MP Damien Moore offered his praise to those who helped in the search. He said: “My thoughts and condolences are with the family of the two boys who died near St Annes Pier at the weekend.
“I would like to thank crews from Southport Lifeboat, the RNLI, the Coastguard, Lancashire Police and others who joined in the search on both Saturday and Sunday.
“This sadly demonstrates that while our coastline is beautiful and inviting, it can also be extremely dangerous.
“We are very lucky to have Southport Lifeboat here in Southport, keeping people safe. They have had a very busy year already and they never know what each day will bring.”