Search for missing Newquay swimmer to resume later

The woman was airlifted to hospital by the Cornwall Air Ambulance

The search for a swimmer who went missing off a beach in Cornwall on Sunday will resume later.

The alarm was raised by a surfer who spotted a man and woman in trouble in the water at Fistral Beach in Newquay at about 1645 BST.

The surfer rescued the woman but was unable to reach the 22-year-old Indonesian student from Newcastle University.

A further search of the coastline will be carried out at low tide.

The Indonesian woman, who has not been named, is in a stable condition at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske.

'Coastline sweep'

The man, who was originally thought to be aged 26, was with a group of friends from Newcastle University when the incident happened.

Fishing boats, coastguards, lifeboats and a Royal Navy helicopter were involved in the search.

RNLI Lifeguard Inspector Steve Instance said on Sunday evening: "We are obviously very concerned for the missing man, as it has been several hours now since he disappeared in the water."

Fishing boats continued to help in the search until darkness fell

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the surfer had been heading towards the pair to offer them help but was knocked off his board. When he got back on, the man could no longer be seen.

The MCA said the missing man and the woman "became overpowered by the sea conditions".

Falmouth Coastguard watch manager Martin Bidmead said earlier: "We have conducted an exhaustive search of Fistral Bay and its surrounding bays."

The search was suspended several hours later after two coastguard teams carried out a full sweep of the coastline about midnight.