- Man, 26, went missing at Porthleven beach in Cornwall as he was paddling in the ocean with friends
- Lifeboats and helicopter were deployed in the early hours of the morning
- Tragedy comes a day after a woman was swept out to sea in north Devon
- Man in Wales arrested for trying to swim in 15ft waves this morning
- 17-year-old boy was killed after being hit by a car on the road in Kent
- Fatal crash on the M25 after a lorry collided with a car in Surrey
- Britain faces another day of storms with more than 100 flood alerts in place
A man is feared dead after he was swept out to sea while celebrating the New Year on the beach with friends.
The 26-year-old was paddling in the sea at Loe Bar, near Porthleven in Cornwall, when he was suddenly swept off his feet by a large wave.
Lifeboats and a rescue helicopter were deployed to search for the man, but rough conditions forced them to call off the hunt last night and 10ft waves stopped them from resuming the search today.
Tragic: A man is feared dead after being swept out to sea at Porthleven in Cornwall, pictured
The tragedy came as Britain was set to be hit by another day of storms, with most of the country experiencing heavy rain.
More than 100 flood alerts are in place, with seven flood warnings indicating that householders should take immediate action to protect their property.
Conditions along the south coast were so dangerous that a traditional New Year’s Day charity swim had to be cancelled for the first time in more than 30 years.
More than 300 swimmers, many in fancy dress, were set to plunge into the English Channel at Gosport, Hampshire today to raise money for 33 different charities.
But organisers called off the event after the Met Office forecast that winds would rise to 70mph, endangering the safety of those involved.
Following the disappearance of the man in Porthleven, a friend called 999 and spoke to Falmouth Coastguard.
Rescue teams, lifeboats and a helicopter searched in atrocious weather conditions but were unable to find any sign of the missing person.
By 4.30am they had covered the search area many times over but without any luck.
The search was suspended until first light when the coastguard teams began another search, which was confined to the shoreline because the turbulent conditions prevented them from sending out lifeguards.
Phil Mathias, Falmouth Coastguard watch manager, said: ‘The weather for searching has been particularly challenging and as the night has gone on, conditions have deteriorated.
‘There have been south to south westerly gale force to severe gale force winds with very rough sea and rain.
‘The teams have conducted a very intensive search for the missing person.
‘We have been able to focus our efforts into a relatively tight area because of onshore winds but have still been unable to locate the missing person.’
Elsewhere, a swimmer was arrested this morning when he put rescuers’ lives at risk by taking a dip in choppy seas.
The man was wearing a wetsuit when he jumped into 15ft waves off the coast at Aberystwyth in West Wales at 7.30am.
When he got into difficulties, a friend called for help, but he managed to struggle ashore by the time police arrived.
However, he tried to re-enter the water, prompting officers to arrest him for his own safety and that of those trying to rescue him.
Police Inspector Julian Bowen said: ‘We had reports of a man in difficulties in the sea. The conditions were there was a significant swell and huge waves.
‘This behaviour is extremely irresponsible. It puts emergency service personnel in danger as well.’
In Kent, a teenage boy was killed as he was hit by a car while walking home from New Year celebrations.
The 17-year-old was walking along the A229 towards Maidstone when he was struck by a white Skoda around 3.30am.
Police said that they had closed the road for three and a half hours while investigating the incident.
One person was killed in the early hours of the morning following a car crash on the M25 in Surrey.
A car collided with a lorry around 1.45am, leading police to close part of the motorway for several hours.
In a separate incident, a woman died after getting swept out to sea at the popular beauty spot Croyde Bay in north Devon yesterday morning.
The coastguard were called at around 11.30am after receiving reports that a woman had got in trouble while swimming or surfing near Braunton.
The woman, who was believed to be on holiday with her family, was recovered from the sea and airlifted to hospital but confirmed dead at hospital.
The beach – which attracts amateur and professional surfers from across the country – yesterday saw waves reaching up to 10ft.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: ‘Despite search attempts by helicopter and lifeboat crews, she could not be found until she was removed from the water at around 1pm.
‘She was airlifted to North Devon District Hospital where attempts to revive her were sadly unsuccessful.
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