Merseyside Police have issued a warning to people wanting to search the River Mersey for a missing swimmer.
The force released a statement on Friday, July 22, after receiving multiple calls from people wanting to carry out a water search for Haydn Griffiths from Wigan who went missing while swimming with a friend. Haydn was last seen at Derby Pool, in New Brighton, when he was attempting to swim out to the wind turbines when he disappeared in the water and didn't resurface.
A huge search was launched by the Coastguard and lifeboat volunteers along with police and the fire service, but was called off at around 5pm on Wednesday, July 20. Megan Griffiths, Haydn's older sister, said she believes her brother was stung by a jellyfish and went into shock before his disappearance.
READ MORE: Sister's message to brother missing at sea on his birthday
Merseyside Police and HM Coastguard are now urging people "not to continue with plans to search the shoreline from New Brighton to Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm".
In a statement, the emergency services said: "HM Coastguard water safety advice strongly advises that you never attempt to carry out any element of search and rescue alone or with friends, as you are likely to get into difficulty yourself. The water around our coasts can be very unpredictable and cold, even in the height of summer – and people can quickly find themselves in trouble.
"Conditions offshore can also be very different to those experienced on the beach or shoreline. Our thoughts and those of all our Coastguard colleagues are with the family and friends of the missing man."
The Griffiths family travelled to Merseyside on Wednesday night to start searching miles of shoreline along New Brighton, Hoylake, Leasowe, Wallasey, Crosby and Widnes. Megan, described her "little bro" as "an athlete" and said she believes he is “out there and fighting”.
She said: "He got stung by a jellyfish, which Maria [who Haydn was swimming with] said he got sent into a shock and got cramp in both of his legs. Maybe he washed onto a remote beach and is too injured to find help.
"Maybe he’s still out at sea, hanging onto a buoy. Haydn is so strong. The RNLI coastguard have been incredible and the search party have been amazing.
“This is the most important search in the whole wide world as my incredible baby brother is out there. He is the strongest human I've ever met and I know he's out there fighting.”
Megan said the search for her brother, who's birthday is today (Friday, July 22), is still going strong. In an update on Instagram, she said: "We have multiple drones out looking over marshland and places that can't be reached on foot."
She went on to thank the emergency services and the dozens of people who came to the beach to search with them.
She said: "I just want to say how blessed our family is by the overwhelming support of friends, family and complete strangers. There are so many kind souls dedicating their time to search for Haydn.
"We will keep strong and keep searching."
Merseyside Police are continuing to carry out enquiries into Haydn’s disappearance. In a statement, officers issued a description of Haydn and said he was last seen wearing dark coloured swimming shorts.
Haydn is white, 6ft 1in tall, of athletic build with short blonde hair and blue eyes.
The force added: "We are continuing to carry out enquiries following reports that a 23-year-old man, Haydn Griffiths, has gone missing while swimming in the River Mersey off New Brighton at around 10.30pm on Tuesday.
“Haydn was last seen in the water at the Derby Pool, New Brighton, wearing dark coloured swimming shorts attempting to swim towards the windmills in the area. An extensive search of the river was carried out last night and today by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency but Haydn was not found and the search has now been suspended.
"Haydn is white, 6ft 1in tall, of athletic build with short blonde hair and blue eyes. Enquiries remain ongoing to find Haydn."
If you have any information that could help police with their enquiries, please contact @MerPolCC on Twitter, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, 101, quoting reference 22000518807.
READ NEXT:
Man found dead on train tracks at Merseyside station
Drug ring boss found dead in prison with no explanation
Teen crack dealer earned 'hundreds every day' after joining 'the family business'
Men in balaclavas banging on door leads to cannabis farm bust
'Adored' man, 31, who was 'loved by all' dies after collapsing at home
