Body found in search for missing swimmer at Durdle Door

A body has been found in the search for a man who went missing while swimming at Durdle Door, police said.

The coastguard received a 999 call at 5.45pm on Sunday from a man who said his brother had gone under the water and disappeared while swimming near the beauty spot.

It was reported that the man, aged in his 20s and from London, had been swimming with two other people when he got into difficulty.

Extensive searches took place to try to locate the man, involving officers from Dorset Police, members of the police dive team, the Coastguard, the RNLI and the ambulance service.

At about 12.35pm on Tuesday, the body of a man was found in the water near to Man O’ War beach.

Formal identification is yet to take place but the family of the missing man have been informed and the coroner has been notified.

Chief Inspector Stu Pitman, of Dorset Police, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man at this very difficult time.

“I would like to thank everyone involved for the prompt and co-ordinated multi-agency search effort and those members of the public who assisted in sharing our appeal.”

Crowds have flocked to beaches and cliffs at Durdle Door over the past few weeks as lockdown restrictions were lifted.

At the end of last month, three people suffered serious injuries at the Dorset beauty spot after leaping from the top of the limestone arch, which is 200ft high.

Thousands of people were evacuated from the beach and surrounding cliff area to allow air ambulances to land.

Advertisement