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12/06/2007
Air-and-sea search called off for missing father
A massive air-and-sea search for a man whose two-year-old son was found in the English Channel has been called off.
However, a Sussex Police specialist search team and the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Technical Rescue Team will continue to search the coast for 50-year-old Alan Watkins for a further 24 hours.
The search for Mr Watkins began after his son, Arun, was found in the sea, off Littlehampton in West Sussex on Sunday.
The two-year-old died in hospital two hours after he was found.
Arun is believed to have been with his father when he went missing. A 5ft-long dinghy, containing nappies and a child's armbands, was found drifting close to where the child was discovered.
A member of the public is believed to have seen Mr Watkins and his son entering the sea in their dinghy at Sea Road in Littlehampton between 4:30pm and 5pm on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Watkins and his son were reported missing by his wife on Sunday night. A caravanette registered to him was also found parked in Sea Road.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert said that Arun had been wearing a sunblock suit when he was found, but was not wearing a buoyancy aid.
He confirmed that police were examining a "number of hypotheses" to explain the circumstances of the incident. He told reporters: "We had to deliver a terrible piece of news to the boy's mum last night and she is having to deal with that.
"It would be wrong of us to run in and ask her so many questions so quickly."
It is believed that the family visited the Littlehampton area last year. However, it is not known if they had any other connections to the area.
Lifeboats, a helicopter and dogs have been involved in the land and sea search for Mr Watkins.
However, the Coastguard confirmed that their air and sea search has now been called off.
Coastguard sector manager for South Downs, Ross Greenhill, said: "We have made an extensive search of the coast and, with the lifeboat, up to two miles out to sea.
"Our search is now not expected to resume unless further information comes to light."
(KMcA/JM)
However, a Sussex Police specialist search team and the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Technical Rescue Team will continue to search the coast for 50-year-old Alan Watkins for a further 24 hours.
The search for Mr Watkins began after his son, Arun, was found in the sea, off Littlehampton in West Sussex on Sunday.
The two-year-old died in hospital two hours after he was found.
Arun is believed to have been with his father when he went missing. A 5ft-long dinghy, containing nappies and a child's armbands, was found drifting close to where the child was discovered.
A member of the public is believed to have seen Mr Watkins and his son entering the sea in their dinghy at Sea Road in Littlehampton between 4:30pm and 5pm on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Watkins and his son were reported missing by his wife on Sunday night. A caravanette registered to him was also found parked in Sea Road.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert said that Arun had been wearing a sunblock suit when he was found, but was not wearing a buoyancy aid.
He confirmed that police were examining a "number of hypotheses" to explain the circumstances of the incident. He told reporters: "We had to deliver a terrible piece of news to the boy's mum last night and she is having to deal with that.
"It would be wrong of us to run in and ask her so many questions so quickly."
It is believed that the family visited the Littlehampton area last year. However, it is not known if they had any other connections to the area.
Lifeboats, a helicopter and dogs have been involved in the land and sea search for Mr Watkins.
However, the Coastguard confirmed that their air and sea search has now been called off.
Coastguard sector manager for South Downs, Ross Greenhill, said: "We have made an extensive search of the coast and, with the lifeboat, up to two miles out to sea.
"Our search is now not expected to resume unless further information comes to light."
(KMcA/JM)
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Missing father's body found in English Channel
The body of missing man Alan Watkins has been found in the English Channel, close to where his two-year-old son's body was found at the weekend. Mr Watkins, 50, and his son Arun, were reported missing on Sunday evening by Arun's mother, Sheena Basnayake. The pair had gone sailing in a dinghy in Littlehampton in West Sussex on Sunday afternoon.
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