SEARCH FOR MISSING DIVER

Portland Coastguard were co-ordinating a search this afternoon (30 September 2001) for a diver who vanished off the south west coast of England

The diver was last seen unconscious on the surface before disappearing under the water again, said a coastguard spokesperson.

The man was diving from the boat Gold Palm at Grove Point off Portland, Dorset,

The coastguard helicopter and Weymouth inshore lifeboat as well as numerous local vessels launched a search.

Portland Coastguard watch manager Derek Gregory said: "We are very concerned for the safety of this man and the strong southerly winds are not assisting us with this, although visibility is reasonable.

"Unfortunately the diver appears to have become separated from his surface marker buoy which makes the search much more difficult.

"Some local dive boats were also assisting with the search and were sending divers down to search the bottom where practical."