Emergency teams scale back searches for missing Sussex man
Gareth and his dog are believed to have been swept out to sea
Searches to find a missing Sussex man have been scaled back following a large-scale operation along the coast on Sunday (January 17th).
69-year-old Gareth Jones was reported missing with his brown cockapoo dog on Saturday (January 16th) having not been seen since 1pm.
The attempts to find Gareth involved coastguard teams from Shoreham, lifeboat crews, search and rescue volunteers and members of Sussex Police.
None were able to find Gareth or his dog.
In a statement, a Sussex Police spokesperson said:
"Officers investigating the matter have viewed CCTV from the area where he was last seen, and believe it shows Gareth and his dog sadly getting swept out to sea.
"Coastguard and lifeboat crews have now been stood down from the search, but police officers and volunteers are continuing to search the coastline.
"Sussex Police would like to thank all of those involved with the search, including members of partner agencies and the many volunteers who have offered support."