Search for men missing from beach
A major search and rescue operation is underway after two men went missing after swimming out to sea.
Swansea Coastguard co-ordinated the search for the men, both understood to be aged 34, who went into the Bristol Channel on Tuesday evening at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
The water temperature at this time of year is about 14C, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.
The men were spotted going into the water after spending some time at the Royal Pier and Hotel along Birnbeck Road and began to get into serious difficulties as the tide turned.
The Coastguard received reports the men stripped down to their boxer shorts and entered the water while their girlfriends remained on the beach.
The initial call to the Coastguard was made just after 9pm, and by 9.13pm the two men were believed to have been swept half a mile offshore and were heard still shouting for help.
As sunlight faded, two flares were fired from the beach by the Coastguard in an effort to light the scene.
Eric Birkett, watch manager at Swansea Coastguard, said: "Further flares were fired just after 11.30pm in order to light areas of mud in which two men could possibly be trapped, but no sightings of the men have yet been made.
"The weather remained generally benign throughout the evening with good visibility and calm seas."
He added there were about 50 personnel involved in efforts to finding the two men. The search stopped at 3am and resumed two hours later.
