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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/09/storm-imogen-search-continues-for-missing-rspca-worker
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| Storm Imogen: search continues for missing RSPCA worker Storm Imogen: search continues for missing RSPCA worker | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| An RSPCA inspector remains missing in Cornwall after he went to rescue seabirds during Storm Imogen. | An RSPCA inspector remains missing in Cornwall after he went to rescue seabirds during Storm Imogen. |
| Colleagues have been searching for Mike Reid, 54, since he disappeared on Sunday night after going to help around 30 gannets stranded on rocks in the Penzance area. | Colleagues have been searching for Mike Reid, 54, since he disappeared on Sunday night after going to help around 30 gannets stranded on rocks in the Penzance area. |
| Hurricane-force winds reached almost 100mph on Monday, and coastal communities in Wales and southern England bore the brunt of the storm. | Hurricane-force winds reached almost 100mph on Monday, and coastal communities in Wales and southern England bore the brunt of the storm. |
| URGENT APPEAL: Have you seen Inspector Mike Reid? Missing in Penzance area. Contact 999 quoting ref: 106 - 8th Feb pic.twitter.com/S6FMtCWKDi | URGENT APPEAL: Have you seen Inspector Mike Reid? Missing in Penzance area. Contact 999 quoting ref: 106 - 8th Feb pic.twitter.com/S6FMtCWKDi |
| Reid’s wife, Tracey, said she feared her husband had fallen from a cliff into the sea on his night shift. “He’s been an RSPCA inspector for 30 years and loves his job,” she told the West Briton. | Reid’s wife, Tracey, said she feared her husband had fallen from a cliff into the sea on his night shift. “He’s been an RSPCA inspector for 30 years and loves his job,” she told the West Briton. |
| “He loves animals and would do anything to rescue them. We are all devastated and feeling numb, but we just don’t know what is happening at the moment.” | “He loves animals and would do anything to rescue them. We are all devastated and feeling numb, but we just don’t know what is happening at the moment.” |
| Reid’s van was found in the Minack Theatre car park, near Land’s End. Lee Hopgood, the RSPCA’s operational superintendent for the area, said Reid had been alone when he responded to a call from a member of the public who saw the birds being smashed against the rocks. | Reid’s van was found in the Minack Theatre car park, near Land’s End. Lee Hopgood, the RSPCA’s operational superintendent for the area, said Reid had been alone when he responded to a call from a member of the public who saw the birds being smashed against the rocks. |
| “The weather conditions in the area were not good at the time and we are just appealing for anyone who has seen Mike or spoken to him to call the police. He would have stood out in his RSPCA uniform.” | “The weather conditions in the area were not good at the time and we are just appealing for anyone who has seen Mike or spoken to him to call the police. He would have stood out in his RSPCA uniform.” |
| Police have been combing the coastal path for him, and a helicopter is being used in the search. Insp Jean Phillips said: “We are extremely concerned for Mike’s welfare, particularly with the wet and windy weather overnight. If anyone sees him in the area please get in touch.” | Police have been combing the coastal path for him, and a helicopter is being used in the search. Insp Jean Phillips said: “We are extremely concerned for Mike’s welfare, particularly with the wet and windy weather overnight. If anyone sees him in the area please get in touch.” |
| Around 15,000 homes in the area were left without electricity after the storm, and several schools were closed because of the power cuts. | Around 15,000 homes in the area were left without electricity after the storm, and several schools were closed because of the power cuts. |
| Elsewhere in the UK, several people including two children were injured by falling debris. The five- and seven-year-olds were taken to hospital on Monday morning after a stone wall fell on them in Bretforton, Worcestershire. The accident happened less than a fortnight after the local authority inspected the wall and found that it posed no risk to the public. | Elsewhere in the UK, several people including two children were injured by falling debris. The five- and seven-year-olds were taken to hospital on Monday morning after a stone wall fell on them in Bretforton, Worcestershire. The accident happened less than a fortnight after the local authority inspected the wall and found that it posed no risk to the public. |
| In Bognor Regis, a man in his 70s sustained a broken leg and his dog was killed when a 1.5-metre (5ft) garden wall fell on top of them. In Bristol a man in his 40s was injured after trees fell on a block of flats. | In Bognor Regis, a man in his 70s sustained a broken leg and his dog was killed when a 1.5-metre (5ft) garden wall fell on top of them. In Bristol a man in his 40s was injured after trees fell on a block of flats. |
| Near Exeter, in Devon, a father and daughter had a fortunate escape after a tree fell on the family car moments before they were due to leave for school. | Near Exeter, in Devon, a father and daughter had a fortunate escape after a tree fell on the family car moments before they were due to leave for school. |
| The Met Office forecaster Emma Sillitoe said that, at their peak, winds had reached 96mph at the Needles off the Isle of Wight, but they should ease off on Tuesday. Waves reached just under 20 metres off St Ives, in Cornwall, she said. | The Met Office forecaster Emma Sillitoe said that, at their peak, winds had reached 96mph at the Needles off the Isle of Wight, but they should ease off on Tuesday. Waves reached just under 20 metres off St Ives, in Cornwall, she said. |
| There would still be strong winds along the coast of Devon and Cornwall, as well as parts of Wales and the East Anglian coast, she said, “but for most places [it] will be a more settled day”. | There would still be strong winds along the coast of Devon and Cornwall, as well as parts of Wales and the East Anglian coast, she said, “but for most places [it] will be a more settled day”. |
| Coastguards have been telling people to stay away from some beaches and to avoid trying to take pictures of the stormy seas. | Coastguards have been telling people to stay away from some beaches and to avoid trying to take pictures of the stormy seas. |
| No photo is worth risking your life for. If you see someone in trouble at the coast call #999Coastguard pic.twitter.com/tpoF4HmVVw | No photo is worth risking your life for. If you see someone in trouble at the coast call #999Coastguard pic.twitter.com/tpoF4HmVVw |
| One coastguard tweeted in disbelief after the team spotted a primary school group on a beach at Hill Head, near Southampton, Hampshire. | One coastguard tweeted in disbelief after the team spotted a primary school group on a beach at Hill Head, near Southampton, Hampshire. |
| Coastguard rescue officer Brian Graham said: “We do not recommend children of that age being that close to the waves. The waves are very unpredictable and no two waves break the same.” | Coastguard rescue officer Brian Graham said: “We do not recommend children of that age being that close to the waves. The waves are very unpredictable and no two waves break the same.” |
| Amazing -one of the off duty coastguards just saw this group of primary school children on the beach at Salterns 1/2 pic.twitter.com/F8vU2LDEKb | Amazing -one of the off duty coastguards just saw this group of primary school children on the beach at Salterns 1/2 pic.twitter.com/F8vU2LDEKb |
| 2/2 primary school children were on an organised trip-the waves are unpredictable & contain debris #StormImogen where was your child today? | 2/2 primary school children were on an organised trip-the waves are unpredictable & contain debris #StormImogen where was your child today? |
| About 55 Environment Agency flood warnings remain in place in the south-west and Midlands, and the Forestry Commission said it had closed several forests due to strong winds. | About 55 Environment Agency flood warnings remain in place in the south-west and Midlands, and the Forestry Commission said it had closed several forests due to strong winds. |
| Choppy seas and high winds have caused delays and some cancellations on cross-channel ferry services, including between Liverpool and Dublin, and Newhaven and Dieppe. | Choppy seas and high winds have caused delays and some cancellations on cross-channel ferry services, including between Liverpool and Dublin, and Newhaven and Dieppe. |