Rescuers fail to find man seen clinging to rocks

THE UK coastguard has appealed for help to identify a man missing off the Pembrokeshire coast as the search entered a second day yesterday.

St Davids RNLI and the UK coastguard were first alerted to the incident at around 3pm on Saturday after a member said they had seen a man in the water off St David’s Head.

A spokesman for St Davids RNLI said the caller said the man was wearing a backpack and was clinging to rocks in the water.

A UK Coastguard spokeswoman said an extensive search was carried out until fading light at around 9.30pm on Saturday, with St Davids, Fishguard and Broadhaven Coastguard Rescue Teams, St Davids and Fishguard RNLI Lifeboats and the St Athan-based UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter. The search was stood down overnight pending further information and began again on Sunday morning along the shore, beach, rocks and cliff areas.

A spokesman for St Davids RNLI said rescue teams found a coat containing money in the water on Saturday, but no ID was found.

Ieuan Williams, from UK Coastguard, said: “The search continues but we’re also appealing for help from the community to find out who this man might be. If someone hasn’t returned home or back to where they were staying, please can you contact either the police or ourselves by dialling 999 and asking for the coastguard.” Dyfed-Powys Police said the description given of the man was that he is white European, in his 60s, of lean build, has short hair and white eyebrows.

He was wearing a dark coloured day rucksack, dark blue/ black coloured trousers, and a dark blue, long-sleeved shirt or jumper. A brown coloured sheepskin bomber-type jacket was found near to where the man had been last seen.

Inspector Aled Davies said: “Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing to anyone with any information that may assist us in identifying this man or his recent movements to make contact with us as a matter of urgency by calling 101.”

Last night the coastguard said the search had been stood down.