Search called off for missing diver in Northumberland

The search for a diver who was first reported missing on 17 October off the Farne Islands has been called off.

On Sunday 17 October, the UK Coastguard received a mayday distress call from a dive boat, just north of Longstone Island, reporting a missing diver. Both lifeboats were launched immediately and joined other vessels in the area, to carry out an extensive and detailed search.

Maritime Coastguard Rescue Coordination Centre at Bridlington coordinated the search, with Coastguard rescue helicopter 199 from Prestwick joining. Local coastguard officers and the police were also in attendance at Seahouses Harbour. When Prestwick rescue helicopter 199 went to refuel at a local airfield, the rescue helicopter 912 from Hull joined the search. Local charter boats and dive boats assisted but the diver still couldn’t be found.

Lifeboats from Amble, Craster and Berwick continued the search into the night. The search resumed on Monday at 6am, when the Seahouses all-weather lifeboat was relaunched to the same area.

According to a report in the Northumberland Gazette, the search has now been called off after 48-hours of searching.

Northumbria Police spokesperson told the Northumberland Gazette: “A comprehensive search has been carried out over the last 48 hours for the missing diver, supported by our partners, but sadly the male has not been located.”

In the RNLI report during the search released on 18 October, Seahouses volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Ian Clayton said: “We would like to thank our RNLI flanking stations for their tremendous support and assistance put into this search, and the hours their volunteer crews and ours, have spent at sea.

“Our thoughts are very much with the family and colleagues of the missing diver at this difficult time.”