Survival chances 'passed' for missing swimmers

A search and rescue operation for two missing swimmers is winding down after the coastguard today said "all chances of survival had passed".

The men, both aged 34 and "under the influence of alcohol", waded into the sea last night near Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset and were seen to get into difficulties after the tide turned.

More than 50 personnel, an RAF helicopter and lifeboats were all called out after an initial call was received at 9pm.

The search stopped at 3am this morning and resumed at 5am, but the Coastguard said they were now stepping down their efforts.

Speaking from where the men were last seen, near the Royal Pier Hotel on Birnbeck Road, a Severn sector spokesman for the Coastguard said: "We will initiate a low water search this afternoon, but we are scaling down. All chances of survival have past."

This morning, friends of the missing men gathered near Birnbeck Pier but declined to comment.

The Coastguard received reports the men stripped off on the beach down to their boxer shorts and entered the water while their girlfriends remained nearby.

The water temperature at this time of year is about 14C, the Coastguard said.

The initial call to the Coastguard was made just after 9pm, and by 9.13pm the two men were believed to have been swept half a mile offshore and were heard still shouting for help.

As sunlight faded, two flares were fired from the beach by the Coastguard in an effort to light the scene.

Eric Birkett, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, said: "Further flares were fired just after 11.30pm in order to light areas of mud in which two men could possibly be trapped.

"The weather remained generally benign throughout the evening with good visibility and calm seas."

The Coastguard Rescue Team and RNLI lifeboats at Weston-super-Mare were all contacted at the same time and the Avon and Somerset Police informed.

A rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor was scrambled, as was the Burnham inshore lifeboat.

A spokesman for Burnham-on-Sea RNLI said the men were "apparently under the influence of alcohol".