Officers searching for a missing man believed to be in the West Bay area are renewing their appeal for the public’s help to find him.


Mark Purdy, aged 64, left his home in Sussex at 9am on Friday morning. He told his family that he was going for a walk but he never returned.

Later, he messaged to indicate that he is in the West Bay area of Dorset and was very upset.


At around 7pm there was a possible sighting of him at The George pub.
Mark is described as white, five feet eleven inches tall and of slim build.

He has thick grey hair and uses glasses. He may be wearing casual trousers or jeans, a plain jumper, a deep red fleece and black shoes.

Chief Inspector Steve White, of Dorset Police, said: “We have continued our searches for Mark throughout the night. At around 1am this morning, Saturday, February 24, at The Watchouse Café officers found property believed to belong to him, including some clothing, spectacles, a mobile phone and wallet.

“HM Coastguard, Dorset Search and Rescue (DorSAR), the NPAS helicopter as well as Dorset Police are still searching the area today in an effort to locate Mark as we remain very concerned for his welfare.

“Anyone who may have seen Mark since yesterday should contact police urgently.”

Lyme Regis RNLI lifeboat was launched twice in one night as volunteers helped to search the area.

After returning to the lifeboat station at 11.45pm lon Friday evening, the volunteer crew launched again at 2.15am on Saturday to continue the search.

Senior helm Tim Edwards, operations, said: "After a report from the police helicopter we were asked to carry out a search about 300metres off the West Bay piers, but found nothing.

‘Our four crew members then waited in the West Bay coastguard station for the arrival of the coastguard helicopter. We then resumed the search at about 5am, but it was called off around an hour later."

The crew were responded to two further calls on Saturday afternoon, when volunteers spent another four hours helping search the area.
 

Anyone with information or knowledge as to Mark's whereabouts can contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident number 23:434.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.