A MAJOR search and rescue operation was launched in Newquay Bay after a person was reported to be in difficulty in the water on Saturday night (December 27).

Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 924, two RNLI lifeboats, Newquay and Padstow Coastguard teams and the police attended the incident at Great Western Beach shortly after 5pm.

The search was called off after nobody was found to be in difficulty (Picture: Greg Circ)
The search was called off after nobody was found to be in difficulty (Picture: Greg Sirc)

The extensive search was later extended to the Towan and Tolcarne beach areas. The HM Coastguard helicopter scoured the bay using its search light. The operation was stood down after no one was discovered to be in difficulty.

Members of Newquay Coastguard Search and Rescue Team were deployed to Newquay Bay
Members of Newquay Coastguard Search and Rescue Team were deployed to Newquay Bay

Eyewitness Greg Sirc said: “We heard persistent noise from the the Coastguard helicopter so I went out to see what was going on.

“From the cliff top I could see a number of people on the beach with search lights and two boats with search lights also. The helicopter stayed on station for over an hour while the rest carried on searching. They slowly moved some from Tolcarne to Great Western where they all seemed to converge at the rocks in between Towan and Great Western.

“After 15 minutes they seemed to beak up and slowly move away.”

The Coastguard helicopter used a search light to scour the bay (Picture: Greg Circ)
The Coastguard helicopter used a search light to scour the bay (Picture: Greg Sirc)

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “We received a report of a possible person in difficulty in the water at Newquay.

“Newquay and Padstow coastguard rescue teams, a coastguard helicopter, Newquay RNLI lifeboat, Devon and Cornwall Police and South Western Ambulance were sent.

“After an extensive search and further investigation, the search was stood down with no one found to be in difficulty.”

A spokesperson for Newquay Coastguard Search and Rescue said: “This evening at 5.08pm Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team, Newquay RNLI Lifeboats, HM Coastguard Padstow, Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 924 and Devon and Cornwall Police were tasked to reports of a casualty in the water near Great Western.

“Once on scene all assets commenced a comprehensive search of the area. At 7.15pm a second tasking came through requesting Newquay Coastguard and Newquay Lifeboats assist the Police with a casualty on Porth Island.

“Half of the team moved to the second incident with the remainder staying on scene at Great Western. All assets tasked to Porth were stood down once this incident was resolved. St Agnes Coastguard Search and Rescue Team was also tasked to assist with this incident. The search at Great Western was eventually suspended pending further enquiries.”