Holidaymaker, 18, is missing feared drowned after trying to rescue 10 children
Heroic holidaymaker, 18, is believed drowned after going to rescue 10 children who had been swept away by strong riptide
- Callum Osborne-Ward, 18, has not been seen since he entered the water at Rockley Point in Poole Harbour, Dorset
- Initial reports stated Callum had gone to rescue the group of children who were swept away by the strong current
- A massive air and sea search involving coastguard crews is currently underway
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A teenager is feared to have drowned after he tried to rescue 10 children who were swept away by a strong riptide current.
Callum Osborne-Ward, 18, has not been seen since he entered the water at Rockley Point in Poole Harbour, Dorset, on Monday afternoon.
Initial reports stated Callum had gone to rescue the group of children who were swept away by the strong current.
Callum Osborne-Ward, 18, has not been seen since he entered the water at Rockley Point in Poole Harbour, Dorset, on Monday afternoon
A massive air and sea search involving coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, police, the coastguard helicopter and local boat owners is currently underway
Horrified parents entered the sea to help recover the children.
Of the 10 children who were recovered from the water, three were taken off by ambulance to hospital as a precaution.
During the mayhem it became clear that holidaymaker Callum was missing.
A massive air and sea search involving coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, police, the coastguard helicopter and local boat owners is currently underway.
The incident happened in a stretch of water that is notorious for its rip tides.
The incident happened in a stretch of water that is notorious for its rip tides
Police officers are assisting multi-agency searches to find the missing 18-year-old
Last Friday, two sisters aged 13 and nine, were rescued from the same spot after they were dragged into deeper water.
The area has a small sandy beach that is popular with visitors to the nearby Haven Rockley Park holiday park.
Witnesses said some of then children had been jumping off the railway bridge that spans the harbour at the time.
Holidaymaker Leanne Edwards said: ‘When we first arrived it was just the Rockley Park staff doing the rescuing. Then three ambulances and two small ambulances arrived.
‘We were told that four kids had been swept beneath the bridge. They just got carried away.
‘There was one teenage girl on a boat at the end of the pontoon. She was unable to move. Two teenagers were sat beside the pontoon. Another was sat near the mooring.’
One lady who wished not to be named said: ‘I was here just as it started kicking off. Two kids fell in and four adults jumped in and tried to save them.’
A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed that ten people were checked over by the ambulance service and three of them taken to hospital as a precaution.
He 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 and RNLI to locate him.
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 and RNLI 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.’
Callum is described as white, 5ft 5ins tall and with short brown hair. He has the word ‘Dad’ tattooed on his chest and was wearing blue swimming shorts.
The incident comes after it emerged that 15 people have died in Britain’s waters over the past two weeks.
This included a triple tragedy where Edina Olahova, 29, her nine-year-old son Rana Haris Ali and family friend Muhammad Asim Riaz, 39, drowned in Loch Lomond, Central Scotland, on Saturday evening.
They all died after getting into difficulty in the water near Pulpit Rock at Loch Lomond.
A seven-year-old boy, the son of Mr Asim, is fighting for his life in hospital following the horror accident at Pulpit Roch, Ardlui, Argyll and Bute. The families, who lived in Govan, Glasgow, had been travelling around the Isle of Skye.
Edina Olahova, Waris Ali and Muhammad Asim Riaz with his wife pictured hours before the tragedy during the family holiday at Loch Lomond
Rana (left) was seen helping an adult steer a boat as they enjoyed a sunny day out during the heatwave. Right: Widower Waris Ali, 40, said his son and friend were playing on the pier and at the end of the pier, his friend put his foot into the water and fell in. The BBC reported that only Mr Asim was able to swim
Raza (left) and Ali (right) pictured on their family holiday at Loch Lomond
Olahova’s husband Waris Ali, 40, told BBC Scotland today that his son and friend were playing on the pier and at the end of the pier, his friend put his foot into the water and fell in. The broadcaster reported that only Mr Asim was able to swim.
Mr Waris said: ‘We were coming back from Isle of Skye holidays and we decided to take a break and we stopped there. We were sitting and out kids were playing on the pier, when he reached he end of the pier he tried to put a foot in and then he suddenly went over the side.
‘When we see him we went to save him, everybody thought we could walk in, but you couldn’t walk. At first your foot is in deep water. It looked very safe. Everybody was thinking this was maybe a safe place. But when you put your foot inside, that’s deep water.’
He added: ‘When I came out from the water, I could see my wife’s hand. I tried to pull off my shirt and give it to her to catch but she couldn’t.’
Mr Ali also told Sky News his wife saw the children drowning and the adults jumped in to save them. The tragedy was described as ‘one of the worst weekends’ in the history of the national park by bosses as it emerged another three children lost their lives in Scottish waters in a 48-hour period.
On Friday, Conor Markward, 16, died in Ballcoh Castle Country Park, West Dunbartonshire. On Saturday, Dean Irvine, aged 11, died in Alexander Hamilton Memorial Park in Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire, while a 13-year-old boy also died in the River Clyde at Hazlebank, South Lanarkshire.
Teenage boxing champion Frank Varey, 16, drowned in the River Dee, Cheshire, last Thursday, prompting a tribute from Tyson Fury.
Thirty people have reportedly drowned in accidents across the UK in just one week
Speaking about the deaths on Monday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘These are just heartbreaking human tragedies. Like everyone else across the country my thoughts are with the families of those who are grieving loved ones right now.’
She added: ‘These tragedies are a reminder that the beauty of some of our waters often belies the dangers they hold.
‘Even if you think you’re a good, strong swimmer, if you don’t understand the current or the depths or the impact of sudden cold water on the body, then you can be putting yourself in real danger.
‘I think we’ll want to reflect on what more can be done to educate young people about the dangers as well as the beauties of water.’
Police Scotland deputy chief constable Will Kerr urged people to be aware of the ‘float for your life’ campaign, which urges swimmers who find themselves in difficulty to float as much as possible and call for help.
He said: ‘We’re realistic and practical, we’re not going to stop everybody going into the water in this beautiful weather.
‘Please, please, we want to avoid any more of these terrible tragedies.
‘Just be very, very careful when you do so and make sure you know the advice on how to protect yourself and save yourself if you do get into trouble.’
Alasdair Perry, a deputy assistant chief officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme: ‘This is the worst weekend in relation to incidents of this nature I can remember and I’d like to offer my condolences and those of everyone at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to all those affected by this weekend’s tragic events, and in particular to the friends and families of all those involved.’
Simon Jones, the executive lead for water safety at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, added: ‘It’s been a terrible week in the park and across other parts of Scotland as well for tragic events.
‘Our deepest sympathies go out to friends and family.
‘We can’t remember a period like this, many of our staff were closely involved and it’s been very traumatic for people involved.’
Mr Perry urged those swimming in open water to adhere to safety advice, not to leave young people unattended and to ensure they do not swim after consuming alcohol.
Director of HM Coastguard Claire Hughes issued a warning last Friday after nine people had lost their lives in 10 days, before the latest spate of deaths: ‘We can’t emphasise this enough – the sea has no respect for whether you’re local or not and whether you’re experienced or not.
‘Please always check weather conditions and tide times before going out. The Coastguard will always respond to 999 and do all we can to get people home and safe.
‘But be careful. Think twice about what you’re doing at the coast that might put you, your family and friends and even those who come to rescue you in danger. Watch out for each other and those you love. Get home safe.
‘We’ve seen too many tragedies already this summer and we’re sad for those whose families have been left heartbroken by the loss.’