Safety advice on dangers of searching New Brighton coast

We are today, Friday 22 July, working with HM Coastguard to urge people not to take matters into their own hands, following concerns raised about a community search for a missing man in New Brighton.

Both of our emergency services have received calls from members of the public indicating a desire to carry out a water search for a man named Haydn Griffiths missing from New Brighton since Tuesday (19 July 2022).

Haydn was last seen in the water at the Derby Pool, New Brighton, wearing dark coloured swimming shorts attempting to swim towards the windmills in the area.

An extensive search of the river was carried out at the time by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency but Haydn was not found and the search has now been suspended.

HM Coastguard and Merseyside Police ask the public not to continue with plans to search the shoreline from New Brighton to Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm.

HM Coastguard water safety advice strongly advises that you never attempt to carry out any element of search and rescue alone or with friends, as you are likely to get into difficulty yourself.

The water around our coasts can be very unpredictable and cold, even in the height of summer – and people can quickly find themselves in trouble.

Conditions offshore can also be very different to those experienced on the beach or shoreline.

Our thoughts and those of all our Coastguard colleagues are with the family and friends of the missing man.

If you have any information that could help police with their enquiries, please contact  @MerPolCC on Twitter, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, 101, quoting reference 22000518807.