Southampton Climber Missing In Dorset

15 June 2016, 11:13 | Updated: 15 June 2016, 13:15

A climber from Southampton's gone missing, while scaling cliffs in Dorset.

Both the coastguard and NPAS helicopter have been up this morning to search the coastline around the Swanage area but there has been no trace of the man.

At 12.24am today, Wednesday 15 June, Dorset Police received a concern for welfare call about a 26-year-old man from Southampton who had failed to return home as expected following a climbing trip. 

The man’s car was located in Durlston Road near Durlston Country Park and some climbing equipment has been found one mile west of Anvil Point. His family have been informed. 

The man is described as white, five feet nine inches tall and of slim build. He is bald with a ginger beard and blue eyes.

Chief Inspector Bob Acaster, of Dorset Police, said: 

“The man told his partner he was going climbing for the day but he failed to return home as normal. Every indication is that he did indeed go climbing on his own and we are very concerned that he may have come to some harm.

“It is possible that he may have gone deep water climbing which typically involves using a rope to lower down the cliff and then climbing back up unsupported. 

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the Swanage area yesterday and saw a man climbing the cliffs or in the Durlston Road area to please contact Dorset Police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 15:04.