Maritime and Coastguard Agency
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Coastguard request help from the public after extended search for kayaker
Coastguard are
asking walkers and leisure boat users to keep a watchful eye out
today for a female paddler who went missing yesterday afternoon in
her red kayak.
A major search which has been on going for most of yesterday
evening resumed at first light for the 53 year old woman missing
off the coast of Anglesey in north Wales. She was last seen
heading through rocks near Rhosneigr at about 2.30 pm yesterday (Sunday)
The missing female from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, who is
known to be an experienced kayaker, became separated from four
colleagues when they hit bad weather.
The search resumed again this morning at 06.30 am.
The alarm was not raised until yesterday evening after her
companions, who had washed up on a a particularly hostile area of
coastline and had had to lift their canoes up the cliff, and
managed to hitch hike back to base.
The woman was last seen
heading through rocks at Ynys Feurig, or Starvation Island, close
to Rhosneigr.
An area of up to 60 square miles has now been
searched.
Barry Priddis, Duty Watch manager at Holyhead Coastguard said
“This morning Coastguard teams from Holyhead, Llandwrog,
Rhoscolyn and Rhosneigr, two lifeboats from Trearddur Bay and
another lifeboat from Porth Dinllaen are involved and we are
concentrating their efforts along the island's coastline.
We are also intending to get a further aircraft above Caernarfon
Bay this morning for an additional aerial
sweep.
"It's a coastal search at the moment.
She was last seen very close to the coast and making good
progress. Her four friends who had been with her had thought she
had gone ahead to raise the alarm after they got into trouble as
the conditions worsened.
“Poor weather yesterday has made the searchers' task
all the more difficult hence our plea to the public to keep a
weather eye out for her and her highly visible red kayak. If
anything unusual is spotted in the area please call Holyhead
Coastguard on 01407 762051.”
Notes to Editors
• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise
awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities.
Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the
sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and
career opportunities available to young people within the UK
growing maritime sector. www.seavisionuk.org
• • Stay safe - before heading out on the water get trained,
check weather and tides, wear a lifejacket, avoid alcohol and keep
in touch
Contacts:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office
Phone: 023 8032 9401
NDS.MCGA@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Mark Clark.
Phone: 023 8032 9414
Mobile: 07711 002678
mark.clark@mcga.gov.uk
