Elizabeth Ashbee carrying the kayak she was in, though she may be wearing a different drysuit
A sea search for a paddler missing off the Anglesey coast has been called off.
But efforts to find 53-year-old Elizabeth Ashbee will continue on land, and the Coastguard has appealed to walkers and leisure-boat users to be on the lookout for the woman, who was in a red kayak.
The Shrewsbury paddler, described as an experienced kayaker, became separated from four companions in bad weather about 2.30pm yesterday, Sunday, while heading through rocks near Rhosneigr.
The search by Coastguard teams from Holyhead, Llandwrog, Rhoscolyn and Rhosneigr, two lifeboats from Trearddur Bay and another lifeboat from Porth Dinllaen continued yesterday evening and resumed at 6.30am today, but the sea search has now been wound down and North Wales Police have taken over the lead as the emphasis shifts to a shore search.
Earlier today, Barry Priddis, duty watch manager at Holyhead Coastguard said: “It’s a coastal search at the moment. She was last seen very close to the coast and making good progress. Her four friends who had been with her had thought she had gone ahead to raise the alarm after they got into trouble as the conditions worsened.”
The alarm was not raised until yesterday evening after her companions, who had washed up on a particularly hostile area of coastline and had had to lift their canoes up the cliff, and managed to hitch-hike back to base.
The woman was last seen heading through rocks at Ynys Feurig, or Starvation Island, close to Rhosneigr.
An area of up to 60 sq miles has been searched.
“Poor weather yesterday has made the searchers’ task all the more difficult hence our plea to the public to keep a weather eye out for her and her highly visible red kayak,” Mr Priddis said.
He continued: “After having a significant number of rescue units available to us and having conducted a 26-hour search we have come to the conclusion that we must now suspend our activities pending any further developments or new information becoming available.
“We would like to thanks all those marine units who took part including Coastguard teams from Holyhead, Llandwrog, Rhoscolyn and Rhosneigr, the crews of the two lifeboats from Trearddur Bay and crews from RNLI, Porth Dinllaen, Beaumaris and Holyhead, plus air crews from RAF Valley.
Inspector Guy Blackwell of North Wales Police said: “We will now take primacy management of the incident and investigations will continue working closely with HM Coastguard and other emergency rescue services. All close family members are now aware of the situation, and we will remain in constant contact with them.”
If any one has any further information on the whereabouts of Ms Ashbee they should contact Holyhead Coastguard on 01407 762051.or North Wales Police on 0845 6071001 or 1002.
