A 14-year-old boy was last night feared dead after being swept into the sea

A 14-year-old boy was last night feared dead after being swept into the sea while playing in the surf in rough weather conditions.

The unidentified youngster disappeared from West Beach at Newhaven, East Sussex, at about 4.15pm yesterday afternoon.

Rescue teams, including a coastguard helicopter and RNLI lifeboat, scoured the area in what were described as ‘atrocious conditions’ with poor visibility.

The Newhaven Lifeboat said at 9.45pm that all teams searching for the boy had been stood down for the night by the coastguard.

A spokesman for the team said on Twitter: 'Our thoughts go to the boy's family and friends at this sad time.'

The teenager was playing with friends when the incident occurred. They were not swept off and are safe.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: ‘This is a very distressing incident and everything possible is being done to try to find the boy.’

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said last night that the operation had now become one of search and recovery.

A spokesman added that rescue teams struggled in difficult conditions. She explained that police were with the boy's family and ‘they are distraught’.

The youngster was in the water at West Beach approximately 30ft offshore and Solent Coastguard was alerted to the missing boy via 999 calls.

Steve Mann of Solent Coastguard said: ‘This weekend we have been expecting hurricane-force winds and we are urging people to take extra care.

‘The crashing waves are spectacular to watch but also extremely dangerous. HM Coastguard's advice is simple: don't take risks.

‘But if you do get into difficulty, or spot someone who might be in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

The police spokesman added: ‘All agencies remind people of the dangers of being at seashores in adverse weather, especially in view of the approaching severe weather conditions overnight. The advice is straightforward - stay clear.’

Winds of more than 100mph could leave a trail of destruction today, bringing down trees and causing widespread structural damage.
Missing fisherman: Steven Stringer has not been seen since he was spotted at the riverbank to the River Kennet in Theale, near Reading, Berkshire

Missing fisherman: Steven Stringer has not been seen since he was spotted at the riverbank to the River Kennet in Theale, near Reading, Berkshire

Surface water floods could strike much of England as the Met Office predicts up to 1.6in of rain could fall within six to nine hours overnight.

Elsewhere, search and rescue teams have been looking for a photographer feared to have been washed off The Cobb wall at Lyme Regis in Dorset.

A witness said a man was taking photos of the waves before he was swept out to sea. Coastguards carried out a search from 6pm on Saturday.

However, no-one has been reported missing. A coastguard helicopter and a RNLI lifeboat have now been stood down.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency urged anyone who was taking photographs on Saturday at that site between 5.30pm and 6pm to get in contact.

Meanwhile the hunt continues for a fisherman who is feared to have been swept away in a storm-swollen river in Berkshire.

Emergency services searched the river banks for clues to what happened to Steven Stringer, 62, from Basingstoke.

He was last seen fishing on the River Kennet at Theale, three miles upstream from where it flows into the Thames at Reading.

The last definite sighting of him was at 5pm on Friday by someone who saw him fishing where the Kennet flows close to Wigmore Lane in Theale.

About 60 flights have been cancelled at London's Heathrow Airport today due to the expected storm.

And many train companies in the South have announced they will be running amended timetables, with some not operating at all until late morning.

 Source: dailymail