Urgent search for missing man, 50, after empty car found on UK beach as helicopter and coastguard join huge search
AN URGENT search has been launched to find a missing man after a car was found abandoned on a popular beach.
The empty car was found by mystified members of the public at East Preston beach in West Sussex shortly after 2.10pm on Sunday.
Pictures from the beach show a huge search operation in place, including a helicopter combing the seafront.
Sussex Police is urgently searching with the HM Coastguard for 50-year-old Alexander.
He is around 5ft 10ins tall and is known to wear baggy clothing and a hat.
A Coastguard helicopter has been searching the area, as well as police officers, dog units, drones and the RNLI.
Read More
The Shoreham lifeboat was sent out at 2.35pm today, a spokesperson for the RNLI said.
A Sussex Police spokesperson said: "We are concerned for the welfare of Alexander who is missing from Sheffield.
"The 50-year-old was last seen near East Preston beach today.
"Alexander is 5’10” tall and wears baggy clothing and a hat.
Most read in The Sun
"If you see Alexander, please call 999 immediately quoting serial 0508 of 22/12."
A spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard received a request for assistance from Sussex Police with an incident at East Preston beach just after 14:10 today (22 Dec)
"A coastguard helicopter, Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team and Shoreham RNLI lifeboats have been sent."
