Man Believed Swept Out To Sea Not Located

The Duke of Cambridge Prince William was part of a team of first responders that undertook a search and rescue mission on New Year's Day shortly after midnight, but were unfortunately unable to locate a man who was reportedly swept out to sea by a large wave on the coast.

The member of the Royal family had just returned from a Christmas holiday with his wife Kate at her parent's home in Berkshire, and then a visit with his family in Sandringham, according to a report appearing in the London Evening Standard.

Flight Lieutenant Wales' aircraft was called on after a man was reportedly swept off a promenade at Blackpool. He reportedly flew in conditions of winds reaching 50 knots during a storm in an attempt to locate the missing man.

The RAF Sea King flown by Prince William employed its searchlight to assist rescuers on the ground in their attempt to locate the missing person. The watch manager of the Crosby Coastguard station Stuart Atkinson said that they were unable to find the man, though it was believed he had been thrown both a lifering and a football. "We have located the football, but not the life ring," Atkinson said. A second search was being conducted Wednesday.

The Prince has been involved in several rescues since arriving at RAV Valley in 2010, including one in which he hoisted two sailors who's boat foundered in heavy seas out of the water.

(RAF Sea King SAR helicopter pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.raf.mod.uk/rafvalley