UK Weather – Brits to brace for Storm Ciaran chaos as desperate search launched for man who jumped in sea to save woman
BRITS are bracing for Storm Ciaran chaos as a desperate search is launched for a man who jumped into the sea to save a woman.
The man, who has now been missing for nearly 20 hours, was last seen diving into the choppy waters off a jetty at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, around 4pm on Sunday.
It’s understood his rescue attempt was in a bid to save a woman and her dog.
Coastguards, police, RNLI lifeboats and the local search and rescue team were scrambled to the scene.
The woman and her dog were rescued but unfortunately they have still not found the man.
A Coastguard spokesperson said “HM Coastguard is responding to reports of a person in difficulty in the water in Burnham-on-Sea.
“Alerted at around 4pm, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Burnham and Weston-super-Mare, the Coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent and lifeboats from Weston-super-Mare have been sent to the scene.”
A helicopter was also deployed – using heat-seeking equipment to scan the water.
As the urgent search ramps up, Met Office meteorologists have put much of Britain under yellow weather warnings.
The alerts were issued over the weekend – with them expected to be in place until Thursday.
Heavy rain is forecast to lash down on the south coast of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Rainfall of up to 60mm is said to fall while the warnings are in place.
An alert for wind is also predicted later on in the week as the weather service warned Brits can expect “very strong and potentially damaging winds associated with Storm Ciarán possible on Thursday”.
Gusts of up to 90mph are said to batter exposed coast lines while those in land could face 80mph gales.
Marco Petagna, a Met Office meteorologist, said: “We’ve had various warnings in force across the UK over the last few days and there are plenty more being issued for the next couple of days.
“The main focus in the next day or two is towards the east of Scotland, north-east England where there is a yellow rain warning until 3am.
“There will be persistent rain up there and then the focus for heavy showers will be across parts of southern and south eastern England, south Wales as well parts of Northern Ireland with some heavy and sudden showers as well.”
He said that Tuesday is expected to be unsettled but quieter before heavy winds and longer spells of rain develop on Wednesday night, into Thursday, as Storm Ciaran arrives.
He added: “There are possible gusts of 80 to 90 miles an hour in some exposed southern areas. It’s probably quite a nasty storm this one.”
The Environment Agency issued 72 flood warnings as the latest band of bad weather approaches.
The latest storm has already brought chaos to much of the country.
A popular pub was forced to close after it collapsed in heavy downpours on Sunday.
Staff members were inside the family-run Ship Inn at Cockwood, Devon, as the roof and wall behind the bar caved in due to torrential weather conditions.