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| Hunt goes on for boy swept to sea | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The search is continuing for a boy who was swept out to sea by a wave at Porthcawl in south Wales. | |
| The hunt had been scaled down overnight for the boy, who is thought to be local and reported to be 13. | The hunt had been scaled down overnight for the boy, who is thought to be local and reported to be 13. |
| A fisherman called 999 after he saw the boy washed off rocks near the harbour wall at 1830 BST on Friday. | A fisherman called 999 after he saw the boy washed off rocks near the harbour wall at 1830 BST on Friday. |
| Two lifeboatmen tried to swim out to him when he was about 100 yards away, but he had gone when they arrived, and he has not been seen since. | Two lifeboatmen tried to swim out to him when he was about 100 yards away, but he had gone when they arrived, and he has not been seen since. |
| Two helicopters and several lifeboat teams have been involved in the search, co-ordinated by Swansea Coastguard. | Two helicopters and several lifeboat teams have been involved in the search, co-ordinated by Swansea Coastguard. |
| A low-water search of the coastline is due to begin when the tide drops at about 1330 BST. | A low-water search of the coastline is due to begin when the tide drops at about 1330 BST. |
| It was a massive, massive effort from everyone concerned and most people have been out all night as well Steve Jones, Swansea Coastguard | It was a massive, massive effort from everyone concerned and most people have been out all night as well Steve Jones, Swansea Coastguard |
| Steve Jones, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, told BBC Radio Wales that telephone operators did well to keep the fisherman on the line for eight minutes while rescuers were sent to the scene. | Steve Jones, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, told BBC Radio Wales that telephone operators did well to keep the fisherman on the line for eight minutes while rescuers were sent to the scene. |
| "Two of the lifeboatmen from Porthcawl were very brave and entered the water and started to swim out to him, but unfortunately when they got there there was no further sighting of the lad," said Mr Jones. | "Two of the lifeboatmen from Porthcawl were very brave and entered the water and started to swim out to him, but unfortunately when they got there there was no further sighting of the lad," said Mr Jones. |
| Porthcawl lifeboat, Mumbles all-weather lifeboat and Atlantic College inshore lifeboat teams were all involved on Friday evening. | Porthcawl lifeboat, Mumbles all-weather lifeboat and Atlantic College inshore lifeboat teams were all involved on Friday evening. |
| The search also involved a rescue helicopter from Chivenor, Devon and a police helicopter. | The search also involved a rescue helicopter from Chivenor, Devon and a police helicopter. |
| A lifeboat continued searching through the night, as did rescue teams on the shore who scoured the coast. | A lifeboat continued searching through the night, as did rescue teams on the shore who scoured the coast. |
| "It was a massive, massive effort from everyone concerned and most people have been out all night as well," said Mr Jones. | "It was a massive, massive effort from everyone concerned and most people have been out all night as well," said Mr Jones. |
| "We've had some nasty south-westerly winds for the last few days [and] coupled with spring tides, there's a fair swell running onto the coast. | "We've had some nasty south-westerly winds for the last few days [and] coupled with spring tides, there's a fair swell running onto the coast. |
| "We cover the Watchet area [in Somerset] and a similar incident happened there the night before when a young lad was swept into the water, fortunately with a better outcome." | "We cover the Watchet area [in Somerset] and a similar incident happened there the night before when a young lad was swept into the water, fortunately with a better outcome." |
| Porthcawl is a popular resort midway between Swansea and Cardiff | Porthcawl is a popular resort midway between Swansea and Cardiff |
| The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said survival time in the water at this time of year was estimated to be about three hours. | The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said survival time in the water at this time of year was estimated to be about three hours. |
| Sea conditions were moderate to rough on Friday, with a higher-than-average high tide, but they were a little calmer early on Saturday. | Sea conditions were moderate to rough on Friday, with a higher-than-average high tide, but they were a little calmer early on Saturday. |
| The RNLI said: "All we know is that he was washed off the front of the breakwater here and very quickly disappeared out to sea. | The RNLI said: "All we know is that he was washed off the front of the breakwater here and very quickly disappeared out to sea. |
| "He was with friends and there were fishermen on scene. At this time of year in the holidays we get a lot coming down. | "He was with friends and there were fishermen on scene. At this time of year in the holidays we get a lot coming down. |
| "We have got exceptionally big tides at the moment and last night the sea was very rough." | "We have got exceptionally big tides at the moment and last night the sea was very rough." |
| He said the boy and his friends were on the western, seaward side of the wall when the accident happened. | He said the boy and his friends were on the western, seaward side of the wall when the accident happened. |
| Known locally as the pier, the breakwater is part of the town's harbour wall, and it has been taped off. | Known locally as the pier, the breakwater is part of the town's harbour wall, and it has been taped off. |