Major Search and Rescue Operation Underway for Two Missing After Boat Distress Call

A multi-agency rescue operation is currently underway off the Cornish coast after a vessel reported being in distress, leaving two people missing.

The incident began shortly after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday when authorities were alerted to a boat in trouble south-west of Eddystone Lighthouse. Initial reports confirmed there were five people on board at the time the emergency signal was raised.

HM Coastguard confirmed early Sunday morning that while three individuals have been successfully accounted for, the search continues for the two remaining occupants.

The intensive search, which persisted throughout the night and into Sunday, involves a wide array of maritime and aerial assets. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has deployed a coastguard rescue helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft to scan the area, supported by RNLI lifeboats.

Relief crews from Newlyn and Salcombe took over the operation on Sunday morning, replacing the Plymouth and Falmouth teams that had been working tirelessly since the incident began. Furthermore, a significant number of civilian vessels, including French fishing boats operating in the vicinity, have joined the effort to scour the waters.

Flight tracking data has shown HM Coastguard aircraft circling the area off the coast of Plymouth, where approximately a dozen boats have been spotted coordinating with rescue teams.

“The incident is ongoing,” a Coastguard spokesperson stated on Sunday. “It is continuing today with multiple assets sent to help.”

The search effort is currently being hampered by challenging environmental conditions. After a period of unseasonably hot and dry weather, the region has been impacted by incoming storms. Forecasters had issued warnings for thundery showers throughout the night, which observers say may have reduced visibility for crews working in the water.

Authorities have not yet provided details regarding the type of vessel involved or the specific nature of the incident that led to the distress call. As the search continues into the day, officials have indicated that no further information will be released until the ongoing rescue mission reaches a conclusion.

The maritime emergency has sparked concern as the major rescue mission remains the primary focus of coastguard teams in the south-west.