Bodies found in search for teen brothers after day-trip swim
TWO bodies have been found in the sea search for two brothers who went missing after going for a swim.
Muhammad Azhar Shabbir, 18, and Ali Athar Shabbir, 16, were last seen close to the pier at Lytham St Annes, Lancs, on Saturday evening.
Their unnamed 15-year-old cousin managed to swim back to the shore and is in hospital being treated for hypothermia.
Police were alerted at 6.55pm after concerns for the safety of the youths, from Dewsbury, West Yorks. Police confirmed HM Coastguard and RNLI colleagues found two bodies just after 3.15pm yesterday, about a mile from the pier.
A police spokeswoman said: “They have yet to be formally identified but they are believed to be Muhammad and Ali Shabbir.
“Our thoughts remain with their family at this incredibly distressing time.” Witnesses say it was harrowing seeing a family’s trauma after the brothers vanished.
GP Amjad Kapadi, on the beach as the tragedy unfolded, said: “As a parent watching another parent distraught was heartbreaking.”
The three youths, on a family day out, started to struggle in the water but the cousin, described as a good swimmer, managed to make it back and raised the alarm.
Three men on the beach, who were strong swimmers, tried to find the boys but were forced to give up as it became too dangerous.
Dr Kapadi added: “I’ve not visited this beach in many years but I think there should be better signage, re safety and emergency posts.”
He claimed the family of the boys had struggled to get a phone signal as they were high up the beach.
Locals explained that the tide off this part of the coast of Fylde can rise 30ft in six hours.