Found Deceased UK - Haydn Griffiths, 23, went missing while swimming in River Mersey off New Brighton, Merseyside, around 10.30pm, 19 Jul 2022

[MsMiniSleuth]

We are this evening, Wednesday 20th July, continuing to carry out enquiries following reports that 23-year-old Haydn Griffiths has gone missing while swimming in the River Mersey off New Brighton at around 10.30pm last night (Tuesday).

Haydn was last seen in the water at the Derby Pool, New Brighton, wearing dark coloured swimming shorts attempting to swim towards the windmills in the area.

An extensive search of the river was carried out last night and today by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency but Haydn was not found and the search has now been suspended.

Haydn is white, 6ft 1in tall, of athletic build with short blonde hair and blue eyes.

Enquiries remain ongoing to find Haydn. If you see him or have any information, please contact us via Merseyside Police Contact Centre on Twitter, 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook, 101, quoting reference 22000518807.

https://www.facebook.com/merseypolice/photos/a.846576252065687/5500845046638761

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A man who went missing while swimming in the Mersey has been named by police after the search for him was suspended.

Haydn Griffiths was last seen while at the Derby Pool, in New Brighton, at around 10.30pm on Tuesday as he went swimming with friend. The 23-year-old was attempting to swim out to the windmills when he disappeared in the water didn't resurface.

A massive search was launched by the Coastguard and lifeboat volunteers but was called off at around 5pm on Wednesday. Now, Merseyside Police are continuing to carry out enquiries into the disappearance.

Man, 23, named after going missing while swimming in the Mersey

The search was suspended on Wednesday afternoon

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[luxISlight]

I hope he is okay. If he's not alive, I pray they find his body for his family's sake.

 

[Whitehall 1212]

Sadly if the search has been suspended it is likely to resumed once it is light as body recovery operation.

How many young men/teenagers have to lose their lives, because that's who it generally is, before the message hits home that going into open water is inherently dangerous for many reasons, but most of all the effects of COLD WATER SHOCK, which can overcome even the fittest and strongest of swimmers.

Only swim in open water it's in a lifeguarded area or at organised open water swim, where you will be taught how to go about it safely, often wearing a wetsuit and a floatation device.

I went to a fatality in a gravel pit one sunny Sunday afternoon about three years ago. Absolutely devastating for family and friends....they carry it with them forever.

Please teach any youngsters/teens you know about the dangers. These short videos suceed in getting the attention of the school children I have delivered water safety to.

#respectthewater #floattolive

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

The family of a swimmer who went missing in the River Mersey say they believe he is "out there and fighting".

Haydn Griffiths was last seen while at Derby Pool, in New Brighton, at around 10.30pm on Tuesday when he went swimming with a friend. The 23-year-old was attempting to swim out to the wind turbines when he disappeared in the water and didn't resurface.

A massive search was launched by the Coastguard and lifeboat volunteers but was called off at around 5pm on Wednesday, July 20.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/bm-fined-1m-electricians-body-24539894
The family of the 23-year-old have travelled to Merseyside to continue the search for Haydn, with his older sister, Megan Griffiths, telling The ECHO how strong her brother is and how she thinks he is “out there and fighting”.

Megan said: “Maybe he washed onto a remote beach and is too injured to find help? Maybe he’s still out at sea, hanging onto a buoy.

“Haydn is so strong. The RNLI coastguard have been incredible and the search party have been amazing.

“This is the most important search in the whole wide world as my incredible baby brother is out there. He is the strongest human I've ever met and I know he's out there fighting.”

Sister of missing swimmer believes he is 'out there and fighting'

Haydn Griffiths was last seen at Derby Pool when he was swimming with a friend

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Sadly if the search has been suspended it is likely to resumed once it is light as body recovery operation.

How many young men/teenagers have to lose their lives, because that's who it generally is, before the message hits home that going into open water is inherently dangerous for many reasons, but most of all the effects of COLD WATER SHOCK, which can overcome even the fittest and strongest of swimmers.

Only swim in open water it's in a lifeguarded area or at organised open water swim, where you will be taught how to go about it safely, often wearing a wetsuit and a floatation device.

I went to a fatality in a gravel pit one sunny Sunday afternoon about three years ago. Absolutely devastating for family and friends....they carry it with them forever.

Please teach any youngsters/teens you know about the dangers. These short videos suceed in getting the attention of the school children I have delivered water safety to.

#respectthewater #floattolive

it will indeed be a recovery operation at this stage. The river Mersey has one of the highest tidal ranges in the UK. Rip tides and strong currents are very typical at the place that Haydn went into the water.

About tides – The River Mersey | National Tidal and Sea Level Facility

ntslf.org

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A search party search for lost swimmer Haydn Griffiths as the tide goes out this evening on New Brighton Beach in Wirral (Image: Liverpool Echo)


An emotional family have trawled through miles of coastline in search of a missing swimmer who was last seen in the River Mersey.

Haydn Griffiths, 23, went missing at Derby Pool, in New Brighton, at around 10.30pm on Tuesday when he went swimming with a friend. The 23-year-old was attempting to swim out to the wind turbines when he disappeared in the water and didn't resurface.

A huge search was launched by the Coastguard and lifeboat volunteers along with police and the fire service, but was called off at around 5pm on Wednesday, July 20 after 18 hours.

The family of the missing swimmer travelled to Merseyside overnight on Wednesday to continue the search for Haydn on Thursday. Since being in the area the family have searched shoreline along New Brighton, Hoylake, Leasowe, Wallasey, Crosby and Widnes.

Family trawl beach searching for man who went missing in Mersey

Pictures show the Griffiths family, friends and people living in New Brighton searching for the 23-year-old

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Megan Griffiths, Haydn's older sister, said she believes her brother was stung by a jellyfish and went into shock before his disappearance.


She said: Maria [who Haydn was swimming with] said he got sent into a shock and got cramp in both of his legs.


Megan said the search for her brother, who's birthday is today (Friday, July 22), is still going strong.
In an update on Instagram, she said: "We have multiple drones out looking over marshland and places that can't be reached on foot, plus jet skis out on the mission too."

Man missing at sea 'stung by jellyfish' before disappearing

Haydn Griffiths was last seen at Derby Pool in New Brighton on Tuesday night

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

Haydn Griffiths, has been a member of Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club since the age of 6.

Meg said: “Haydn is a real athlete. He has been sailing and swimming from a very young age and is super competent at open water swimming.

“He’s grown up on the water and he knows the weather and waves, so if anyone has got a chance of surviving this, it’s Haydn.”

She said his friend could still hear his shouts as she swam back to the coast for help, and believes he could be washed up and injured along the coastline.

‘I can't give up on him’ – Haydn Griffith’s sister ‘staying strong’ in search for missing swimmer

A TEAM of around 150 volunteers have not given up the search for missing Haydn Griffiths, whose sister said if anyone has the chance of survival,…

www.wirralglobe.co.uk

 

[katydid23]

Very sad story. I want to believe he is still alive somewhere, waiting for help. It is hard for me to fully believe it though. That is supposedly a dangerous place to swim because of severe undertow and strongly moving currents. No matter how strong a young man he is, in the end, he probably is not a match for turbulent open water.

 

[Whitehall 1212]

Haydn Griffiths, has been a member of Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club since the age of 6.

Meg said: “Haydn is a real athlete. He has been sailing and swimming from a very young age and is super competent at open water swimming.

“He’s grown up on the water and he knows the weather and waves, so if anyone has got a chance of surviving this, it’s Haydn.”

She said his friend could still hear his shouts as she swam back to the coast for help, and believes he could be washed up and injured along the coastline.

‘I can't give up on him’ – Haydn Griffith’s sister ‘staying strong’ in search for missing swimmer

A TEAM of around 150 volunteers have not given up the search for missing Haydn Griffiths, whose sister said if anyone has the chance of survival,…

www.wirralglobe.co.uk

That Haydn was a member of the sailing club makes this all the more shocking. Surely he would have had awareness of the currents, tidal range and shipping lanes not to mention just how far the wind turbines were.....and with limited light too.

I'm at a loss to understand. It's not a rational decision.

I've attached a Ordnance Survey screenshot to give some context.

Where Haydn entered the water is in the vicinity of the land/water boundary near to the bottom right of the map, where PH is shown (Public House). The nearest wind turbine is shown towards top left (small black symbol...looks a little like a black cross)

Each square is 1km square the distance across the diagonal is about 1.5 km.....so about 8km (5 miles) to the nearest wind turbine by the shortest route, without the impact of the tide, currents, wind etc.

Normal body temperature is approx 37 degrees C. At 35 degrees C hypothermia begins. A tall, lean male with 15% body fat, immersed in 15 degree water has a survival time of 2.5 - 3 hours.

The water temperature will have been about 15 degrees C. The body will be losing heat to the water. With every degree of heat lost in the muscles there is a 3% drop in muscle strength.

It must be remembered that hypothermia will kill last. Cold water shock followed by exhaustion/fatigue will impact far sooner. Only if a swimmer does not succumb to these will hypothermia affect survival.

 

[katydid23]

That Haydn was a member of the sailing club makes this all the more shocking. Surely he would have had awareness of the currents, tidal range and shipping lanes not to mention just how far the wind turbines are.....and with limited light too.

I'm at a loss to understand. It's not a rational decision.

It was around 10 pm? Maybe they had been drinking?

 

[Whitehall 1212]

It was around 10 pm? Maybe they had been drinking?

That hasn't been indicated in the reports.

However, alcohol will not only impair decision making and functioning it will also cause heat to be lost more quickly in the water, as it dilates the blood vessels.

In short it increases the risk of drowning if entering the water.

 

[katydid23]

That hasn't been indicated in the reports.

However, alcohol will not only impair decision making and functioning it will also cause heat to be lost more quickly in the water, as it dilates the blood vessels.

In short it increases the risk of drowning if entering the water.

Yes, I didn't see it in any reports. But I can't understand why an experienced boater/swimmer would jump into turbulent waters at night---for no apparent reason.

Wanting to 'see if they can swim to the turbines' seems like an irrational reason for doing so--something that someone who has been drinking might think up. JMO

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

I think we have to remember this was the hottest day in UK history, and night, and there has been more than one fatality on same day involving water, ie Lewis Saggers in Herts. People were doing anything to stay cool.

 

[Whitehall 1212]

I think we have to remember this was the hottest day in UK history, and night, and there has been more than one fatality on same day involving water, ie Lewis Saggers in Herts. People were doing anything to stay cool.

That's true...although there were at least 17 deaths in UK open water (coastal, lakes, rivers, disused gravel pits/quarries, reservoirs, canals) from 17 - 24 July. Open water is full of hazards, which most folk are unaware of.

Warnings issued after at least 31 water deaths amid UK heatwave | ITV News

At least 25 people have died in the water since scorching temperatures were recorded across the UK in the past week. | ITV National News

www.itv.com

The biggest killer is Cold Water Shock, which can affect anyone no matter how old or fit. The hotter the air temperature the greater the likelihood of Cold Water Shock owing to the greater temperature difference between the air and water. If you jump or fall into UK open water then you're taking a significant risk of drowning as a result of Cold Water Shock. Learn what to do.....float to live.

The safest place to swim is in a lifeguarded pool. Second safest is a lifeguarded beach, between the red/yellow flags. Third safest is organised open water swimming with experienced individuals to explain how to stay safe, wearing a wetsuit and with a floatation device in tow. Anywhere else stay well clear.

Young males make up the majority of victims. It's a psychological challenge to educate them so they 'get it' and feel empowered enough as individuals to say 'No', when they are being egged on by their mates and the pretty girls who have tagged along are looking on.

 

[StillDiggin]

RIP

Body found in search for missing Haydn Griffiths

POLICE investigating the disappearance of Haydn Griffiths have confirmed that a body was found last night.

www.leighjournal.co.uk

 

[Alyce]

POLICE investigating the disappearance of Haydn Griffiths have confirmed that a body was found last night, Sunday.

The body is yet to be formally identified, and at this time the death is being treated as unexplained.

A post mortem examination will take place to establish the cause.

Body found in search for missing Haydn Griffiths

POLICE investigating the disappearance of Haydn Griffiths have confirmed that a body was found last night.

www.warringtonguardian.co.uk

RIP Haydn - gone far too soon. Condolences and thoughts to Megan, his family and friends and to the hundreds of people who helped search for him.

 

[Alyce]

The man's body was found by the Coastguard close to the Pier Head shortly before 8pm on Sunday evening.

Body found in search for missing swimmer Haydn Griffiths

The 23-year-old went missing while swimming in the sea off New Brighton

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

 

[katydid23]