Despite repeated warnings for people not to go diving during the COVID-19, it seems that some people are above such restrictions. Yesterday, a major search involving the RNLI, HM Coastguard and Royal Navy was conducted to find a missing lockdown diver off Dorset.
Just after 3.20pm, a friend of the diver in question – who was diving without a buddy – reported him missing from their boat near Lyme Regis, prompting Exmouth RNLI to launch. Subsequently, HM Coastguard brought in helicopters from Newquay, Cornwall, and St Athan in Wales to assist with the search, and the Portsmouth-based Royal Navy ship HMS Tyne, the Lyme Regis Coastguard and RNLI crew, and two fishing boats, also joined in the operation.
Just after 5pm, the Exmouth RNLI all-weather vessel located the missing diver, who apparently had reached the surface safely, but had lost sight of his support boat.
He was returned to the shore, where both he and his friend were fined by police for breaking the COVID-19 lockdown measures.
Photo credit: RNLI
