Search for missing diver near Swanage

A search and rescue operation is being carried out to find a diver who has not returned after an expedition.

 The call came in to the UK Coastguard at 4.40pm (BST) today (24th) from the dive vessel Emma J reporting that only two out of three divers had resurfaced.

 A major search is being carried out of an area south of Swanage covering 10.2 square nautical miles.

 Poole all-weather lifeboat and inshore lifeboats together with the Swanage all-weather lifeboat are all involved in the search. The Portland search and rescue helicopter was also involved initially, with the Lee-on-Solent SAR helicopter then taking over.

 Mark Rodaway, operations centre commander at the National Maritime Operations Centre, which is currently overseeing the search, said, 'This is a significant incident.

 'This diver has been missing for more than three hours and clearly this is very serious.

 'We are concentrating our search on this area and will continue to do so.'

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