Search for West Midlands firefighter missing in Channel called off

Iain Hughes went missing while swimming in the English Channel to raise money for charity.

Author: Molly HookingsPublished 22nd Jun 2023
Last updated 22nd Jun 2023

Rescue efforts for a West Midlands firefighter who was swimming the Channel for charity have ended.

Iain Hughes, 42, took off from the coast of Kent on Tuesday morning, but went missing later that day.

Chief Fire Officer, Wayne Brown, said: “Iain’s disappearance is unspeakably sad. We are giving Iain’s family all the support we can at this distressing time.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone close to Iain. He is a highly-respected and much-loved colleague and friend to many.”

Iain, whose 43rd birthday falls next month (July), had trained for nearly two years for his cross-Channel charity swim.

He leaves behind a wife and two children.

He was raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity, the British Heart Foundation, and the Midlands Air Ambulance.

In spite of search efforts involving French and Belgian military helicopters, plus navy and police patrol boats, Iain’s whereabouts remain unknown. French authorities have confirmed the search has now ended.

Iain joined West Midlands Fire Service in 1999, at the age of 19.

He was posted to Bournbrook fire station, and later served at Billesley, Tipton, Wolverhampton, Tettenhall, Bilston, Brierley Hill, and Stourbridge. He was promoted to Crew Manager in 2016 and joined the Technical Rescue Unit in 2022.

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