Royal rescue for man swept into sea by winds

THE DUKE of Cambridge has taken part in a search mission to rescue a man swept into the sea in gale-force winds.

William, an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, was called out with crew mates from his base at RAF Valley on Anglesey to help locate the man.

The 41-year-old was reportedly walking his dog in Blackpool with another man when the pair ended up in the water just after midnight on New Year’s Day.

The Duke used the lights from his Sea King helicopter to help RNLI and Coastguard crews from Blackpool and Lytham St Annes look for the dog walker in the water.

Stuart Atkinson, watch manager at Crosby Coastguard station, said: “We received a call at 12:13am from Lancashire Police reporting that a male was in the water near the south pier at Blackpool.”

“A second male had been in the water but managed to get to safety and raise the alarm.”

“We believe, but it’s not confirmed, that they were walking their dogs.

A source confirmed Flight Lieutenant Wales, as the Duke is known in the military, had taken part in the search.