The search for a man who went missing in the Mersey on the hottest day ever recorded in the UK has been called off.
Around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, Haydn Griffiths, 23, was last seen swimming with a buddy in New Brighton, Merseyside.
He vanished from view and never surfaced, swimming in the direction of the neighbouring windmills.
The Coastguard and volunteer lifeboat crews began a massive search on Wednesday but called it off around 5 o’clock.
The disappearance of Haydn is still being investigated by Merseyside Police.
The family of Haydn went to Merseyside to continue looking for him. Megan Griffiths, his older sister, flew into Heathrow to assist in the search for him.
She told the Liverpool Echo that she believes her brother is still “out there and fighting.”
Megan said: ‘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.’
She added: ‘Time is precious and I hope we can find him ASAP. Anyone, everyone, please if you are anywhere near Wallasey or the surrounding areas please help with the search.
‘If local sailing clubs can help, please help. I’ve felt completely helpless.’
Haydn was described by the police as having been last seen wearing dark swimming shorts.
Haydn has short blonde hair, blue eyes, and an athletic frame. He is white and stands at 6 feet 1 inch
Since the heatwave started on July 9, at least 13 people have died, with Tuesday being the hottest day ever recorded in Britain as temperatures climbed to a record-breaking high of over 40 degrees.
A number of people died by drowning during the heat wave, including a man in his 20s at Cotswold Water Park in Ashton Keynes and a 14-year-old boy who died in Richmond after getting into trouble in the Thames.
On the Isle of Wight, a 70-year-old man also drowned despite rescuers’ efforts to save him for 40 minutes.
On Monday alone, at least five people died as a result of the heat wave.
After five other people were rescued from the water in Clacton, a 21-year-old male is still unaccounted for. On Wednesday, the search for him was suspended.
Five other people had to be brought to the hospital after needing to be rescued from the ocean off Clacton Pier.
Authorities expressed regret for having to stop looking for Haydn Griffiths, 23, in Merseyside.
Merseyside Police said: ‘We are this evening, Wednesday 20th July, 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 last night (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.’
After suspending the search, a spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: ‘We have carried out an extensive search across the area and the missing person has – sadly – not been found. The search is now being suspended.
‘Our thoughts and those of all our coastguard colleagues are with the family and friends of the missing man.’
A spokesperson from the RNLI told the Liverpool Echo: ‘Hoylake’s Shannon class RNLI lifeboat was re-launched this afternoon to continue a search for the missing swimmer.
‘The volunteer crew were paged at 2.33pm and the lifeboat searched an area around the Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm.
‘The coastguard helicopter based at Caernarfon was also tasked. Both assets have now been stood down.’