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Divers' bid to save waterfall duo | Divers' bid to save waterfall duo |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Two amateur divers have described how they spent an hour in a waterfall pool desperately searching for a missing girl and man in north Wales. | Two amateur divers have described how they spent an hour in a waterfall pool desperately searching for a missing girl and man in north Wales. |
The bodies of the man, 33, and the three-year-old girl, believed to be his daughter, were later found in the water at the falls in Llanbedr near Harlech. | The bodies of the man, 33, and the three-year-old girl, believed to be his daughter, were later found in the water at the falls in Llanbedr near Harlech. |
The pair were reported missing on Saturday after falling 50ft (15m) from the Nantcol falls. | The pair were reported missing on Saturday after falling 50ft (15m) from the Nantcol falls. |
Police say a joint investigation with Gwynedd council is underway. | Police say a joint investigation with Gwynedd council is underway. |
The man and girl are understood to have been from the Manchester area and were staying at the nearby Shell Island campsite with members of their extended family. | |
The site manager of the Shell Island campsite, Richard Workman, was one of the divers who volunteered to help in the search, along with a colleague, James Hordley. | The site manager of the Shell Island campsite, Richard Workman, was one of the divers who volunteered to help in the search, along with a colleague, James Hordley. |
"We saw the helicopter hovering over the waterfall and it was obvious something was wrong," said Mr Workman. | "We saw the helicopter hovering over the waterfall and it was obvious something was wrong," said Mr Workman. |
All I could think about was the little girl... sadly we couldn't save them. Diver, James Hordley | All I could think about was the little girl... sadly we couldn't save them. Diver, James Hordley |
"James and I offered to get into our diving gear and help with the search and police said yes. | "James and I offered to get into our diving gear and help with the search and police said yes. |
"We were out there for about an hour." | "We were out there for about an hour." |
The alarm was raised at just after 1600 BST on Saturday, sparking a search-and-rescue operation involving North Wales Police, Fire and Rescue, and the ambulance service. | The alarm was raised at just after 1600 BST on Saturday, sparking a search-and-rescue operation involving North Wales Police, Fire and Rescue, and the ambulance service. |
"The family were there at the time, but taken away from sight while the search was taking place," added Mr Workman. | "The family were there at the time, but taken away from sight while the search was taking place," added Mr Workman. |
Despite the efforts of the emergency crews and the volunteer divers, the bodies of the father and daughter were discovered at the foot of the waterfall just before 1800 BST. | Despite the efforts of the emergency crews and the volunteer divers, the bodies of the father and daughter were discovered at the foot of the waterfall just before 1800 BST. |
Mr Hordley said it was a desperate search for the little girl and her father. | Mr Hordley said it was a desperate search for the little girl and her father. |
He said: "All I could think about was the little girl and getting her back safely. | He said: "All I could think about was the little girl and getting her back safely. |
"Things moved very fast but sadly we couldn't save them." | "Things moved very fast but sadly we couldn't save them." |
Beauty spot | Beauty spot |
Neither of the men could say how the father and daughter came to fall from the waterfall. | Neither of the men could say how the father and daughter came to fall from the waterfall. |
Mr Hordley said the weather was fine and sunny when the accident took place and the waterfall, a popular beauty spot, was busy with visitors. | Mr Hordley said the weather was fine and sunny when the accident took place and the waterfall, a popular beauty spot, was busy with visitors. |
North Wales Police say the deaths were being treated as a tragic accident, and in addition to the ongoing inquiry, the Health and Safety Executive had been informed. | North Wales Police say the deaths were being treated as a tragic accident, and in addition to the ongoing inquiry, the Health and Safety Executive had been informed. |