A teenage boy remains unaccounted for after going missing in the water at Marloes Sands, Pembrokeshire, prompting a major search operation off the Welsh coast.
HM Coastguard confirmed that three people got into difficulty at the beach at around 3.30pm on Sunday. Two of the three managed to get themselves to safety, but the third person, understood to be a teenage boy, has not been found.
Multi-agency response launched
Dyfed-Powys Police urged members of the public to stay away from Marloes Sands shortly before 6pm on Sunday as emergency services responded to the incident. A significant multi-agency search was launched, involving HM Coastguard, the RNLI, police and the Welsh Ambulance Service, Wales Online reported.
Images from the scene showed a considerable emergency services presence at the popular beach, with a coastguard helicopter, HM Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and RNLI lifeboats all deployed. Coastguard rescue teams from Broad Haven and Dale attended, alongside RNLI lifeboats from Angle, Tenby and St Davids and a local pilot boat.
Search suspended and resumed
Mayday relay broadcasts were also carried out as part of the search effort. The operation was suspended at around 3.30am on Monday morning before resuming later that day.
On Monday, Broad Haven, Dale and St Davids Coastguard teams were involved in further searches, alongside the Angle and Littlehaven RNLI lifeboats and the Area 13 Drone Team. HM Coastguard confirmed it was coordinating a maritime search as part of a multi-agency response.
A spokesperson said: "At around 3.30pm on Sunday, HM Coastguard received a report of three people in difficulty in the water and requiring assistance at Marloes, Pembrokeshire.
"Two of the three people self-rescued and one person remains unaccounted for."
Local reports and ongoing efforts
Locals in the nearby Dale area reported hearing helicopters conducting searches along the coastline for several hours on Sunday evening. One resident noted that the helicopters had been circling the area for approximately three to four hours by just before 8pm.
Marloes Sands is a well-known beach situated on the western coast of Pembrokeshire, close to the village of Marloes. The secluded beach draws visitors throughout the summer months, particularly during warm and sunny spells. It is roughly a 15-minute walk from the beach's car park.
The search for the missing individual is still ongoing.
