The local coastguard have spent Thursday night searching for an elderly man suspected to have been washed from the sea wall in Torquay.

A search was underway last night amid severe weather conditions after a man was believed to have been washed into the sea.

The coastguard were called just after 9.30pm on Thursday to look for a man who is thought to have been washed off the sea wall on Meadfoot Sea Road in Torquay. 

A member of the public said he

briefly glimpsed an elderly man before large waves crashed over the wall

and he disappeared from view.

Torbay coastguard, two lifeboats

from Torbay and the RAF search and rescue helicopter from Chivenor

searched the area extensively throughout the night but were unable to

find anything. 

The Maritime and Coastguard

Agency this morning stated: “Unless any new information comes to light,

the search has been stood down.”

“Weather conditions on scene are described as poor, with 1.5-metre swell and a strong onshore wind.” 

The news comes after the Met

office issued a severe wind weather warning for various parts of the UK,

forecasting strong gales and heavy swells along the coast.

Devon has been especially badly hit, with winds reaching up to 90mph, causing Dawlish train station to temporarily close. 

Related articles: 

Image credit: Paul Hutchinson 

http://www.ybw.com/news/motorboats/537589/search-for-man-washed-from-sea-wall-in-torquay