Family 'nightmare' as search for swimmer continues

Michelle Sigsworth lost sight of Matt McDavid after he went swimming off the Flamborough coast last week

A woman whose partner has been missing at sea for a week says she is "living a nightmare" as the search for him continues.

Father-of-two Matt McDavid, 42, dropped out of sight from the shore while swimming off the East Yorkshire coast at Flamborough on 30 July.

Police efforts to find the experienced swimmer from Leeds have been hampered by the weather, including Storm Floris, which hit northern England on Monday.

Mr McDavid's partner, Michelle Sigsworth, said his disappearance was "hitting us more as each day goes by" and urged people to be careful if entering the water.

Ms Sigsworth said she "lost sight" of her partner as she filmed him, shortly after he entered the sea at Thornwick Bay.

At the time he was swimming in the direction of a nearby cave the couple know from having kayaked there.

"As I was videoing I was thinking the waves are getting stronger," she said.

"We just couldn't visualise him in the ocean at all, it was like the current must have taken him."

Ms Sigsworth called the coastguard, but its rescue teams were stood down at around 17:00 BST the following day.

Marine divers from Humberside Police have continued their search of the area.

Family and friends have laid painted stones on the beach

Ms Sigsworth praised the people involved in the operation for their efforts but said the "weather had been against us".

She said she hoped Mr McDavid, who was wearing a grey swimming top and black shorts with luminous yellow zips, may have managed to reach the cave.

However, she has been told rescue teams cannot access the cave until Thursday due to strong currents.

"Matt loves the water - he was born in America and lived at Palm Beach - his whole life has been living next to the ocean," she said.

"He wouldn't go into the water if he didn't think it was safe."

Ms Sigsworth added: "It's just a living nightmare. We're all just struggling with it and it's hitting us more each day is going by.

"I just want to make people aware that it's dangerous in the water, the current can change so quickly."

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