Air and sea search for missing 18-year-old after water incident

Three people were taken to hospital

Author: Jason BeckPublished 26th Jul 2021
Last updated 27th Jul 2021

A man who went missing after reports of "multiple" people in difficulty in Poole Harbour is still unaccounted for.

Emergency services have been searching for 18-year-old Callum Osborne-Ward.

Ten people were checked over by the ambulance service, with three of them taken to hospital as a precaution, following an incident near Rockley Park, police said.

Dorset Police said it had received a report at 3.52pm on Monday.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "Following enquiries, it was established that a further person – 18-year-old Callum Osborne-Ward – was unaccounted for and searches are being carried out by the coastguard, police, RNLI and fire service to locate him."

Callum is described as white, five feet five inches tall and with short brown hair. He has the word ‘Dad’ tattooed on his chest and was wearing blue swimming shorts.

Chief Inspector Glen Doran, of Dorset Police, said: "At this current time Callum remains unaccounted for and we cannot say for certain whether he is still in the water or has made it to land and is lost somewhere in the local area.

"We are working with the coastguard, RNLI and fire service to carry out extensive searches of the water and shoreline and I am appealing to anyone who has any information as to his whereabouts – or who sees a young man matching the description given – to please contact us immediately."

A Poole Lifeboats spokesperson said: "It was soon apparent that the people were no longer in the water and were safe and being cared for, one person was still unaccounted for.

"The inshore lifeboat went through the bridge into Lytchett Bay and began to search.

"The Atlantic searched in the vicinity of Rockley, conditions were calm, a slight breeze and the tide was flooding at this juncture.

"There were a lot vessels searching, the area was saturated with all types of vessels - jet skis, training boats that were able to get in to the shallow latches and through the bridge and fishing boats.

"The Royal Marines sent assets and joined in the search."

Anyone with information or knowledge as to Callum’s whereabouts is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101.