Hunt for boy, 14, who vanished after he went swimming with friends in the River Mersey is called off

The search for a 14-year-old boy who went missing while swimming with friends in the River Mersey has been called off.

The boy had been swimming in the tidal river with friends but they became separated and he disappeared as the others exited the water at around 7pm last night.

The tragedy occurred on Crosby beach near Liverpool within site of the famous 'Iron Men' statues created by sculptor Sir Anthony Gormley.

Coastguards confirmed at lunchtime that the search had been called off after 15 hours, just after the boy's family visited the spot where he went missing.

Locals say the area is highly dangerous for swimmers and even walkers and their pets who can get bogged down in coastal mud. 

The place is on the Waterloo end of Crosby beach.

One local said: 'The Mersey is a strong tidal river and it is very dangerous even for people who know it well.

'You often see pets getting stuck in the mud and the next thing is their owners are stuck too.

'As for swimming, well, you really should be careful.

'The problem is people go abroad and the first thing they do is jump in the sea but the River Mersey is a totally different beast.

'It's fast flowing and just ten metres out from the coast you enter the busy shipping lanes and you see a lot of ships going up and down here. '

A dog walker who visits the area every day said: 'It is desperately sad for the family. They were down here with police this morning and your heart goes out to them. 

'I think there should be more warnings about just how dangerous the Mersey is around here. This isn't the first time someone has drowned and it won't be the last.'

Emergency services were called to the beach on Sunday evening after the boy, who was swimming off rocks with friends, disappeared.

He was last seen swimming near the Seaforth radar tower.

It was built in the 1960s to monitor shipping channels on the Mersey but the need for it has long been overtaken by new technologies. There are plans to demolish it.

The path to the radar tower was closed off by the police while the search took place. 

A Coastguard spokesman said today: 'The search for a person reported missing in the Crosby Beach area on 30 June was stood down, pending further information, at about 10am on July 1.'

Since the boy went missing a massive search and rescue operation took place between the beach and marine lake. A coastguard helicopter was spotted in the air last night searching the water. 

A reporter at the scene for the Liverpool Echo previously said: 'By my count, there are five ambulance vehicles, six fire engines and at least three police vehicles in the vicinity.

'More are stationed further along the beach and a coastguard helicopter has been circling.'

A number of RNLI lifeboats were involved in a multi-agency search, including New Brighton RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Lytham St Annes all-weather lifeboat and Hoylake’s all-weather lifeboat.

While the search was ongoing on Monday, members of the public approaching the beach were turned away by police officers. 

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said earlier: 'Just after 7pm emergency services received a report of a concern for safety of a 14-year-old boy who had gone swimming in the River Mersey, near to the radar tower with a group of friends. 

'His friends had come out of the river but had become separated from him and he has not been seen since.

'The incident is ongoing and Crosby beach near to the radar tower has been cordoned off. 

'We are asking people to avoid the area at this time, whilst the emergency services, including the coastguard and North West Ambulance Service, continue searching for the missing boy.'

While the search was ongoing, Sefton council said: 'Police are asking people to avoid the area at this time, whilst the emergency services, including the coastguard and North West Ambulance Service, continue searching for the missing boy.'