Diver missing off Lulworth Cove & female swimmer vanishes off Cornish coast sparking major searches
SEARCHES are continuing for a missing diver as police appeal for information about a female swimmer who vanished over the weekend.
Carvalho Ildelindo da Silveira disappeared while diving off the coast of Lulworth Cove, Dorset on Saturday.
The diver in his 60s, from Bramdean, Hampshire, was last seen in the water around 4.15pm and was reported missing to the RNLI four hours later.
An air and sea search was mounted with RNLI coastguard rescue teams scrambled.
A police search and rescue helicopter joined in the frantic hunt, which resuming this morning.
Specially trained marine officers joined the search for Carvalho, who is described as 5ft 2in tall, bald and with a large white moustache.
MISSING SWIMMER
His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist police officers.
It comes as Cornwall Police search for a woman in a short black dress who failed to surface after going into the sea at Perran Sands Beach, Perranporth.
Witnesses saw the woman, in her 40s or 50s, dive under a wave and not surfacing around 1.35pm on Saturday.
She is described as slim and has dark shoulder length hair, with police enquiries ongoing.
A police spokesman said: “She is believed to be local because she informed lifeguards she is a regular swimmer in these waters.
DESPERATE SEARCHES
“Police are asking for any information which may assist with the identity or potentially the whereabouts of this female.
“One possible outcome is that she may have got out of the water unharmed and is unaware this has been reported.
“However, witnesses have described her diving under a wave and not coming back to the surface.”
This weekend saw England lashed by rain and choppy weather.
Last month, a UK heatwave led to at least 40 drownings, with the shocking number of deaths triple the normal rate, according to the Water Safety Forum.
Chief Inspector Gavin House, of Dorset Police, said searches for Carvalho are ongoing and involve a range of agencies and specialist units.
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He said: “We are appealing for anyone who may have any knowledge as to Carvalho’s whereabouts to contact police immediately.
“We would also like to hear from anyone who was out on the water in the area who recalls seeing a diver matching the description given and may have information that could help us.”
Anyone with information or knowledge as to Carvalho’s whereabouts is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 7:680.