UPDATE: Southampton student still missing after solo climbing trip

Southampton Student Liam Day, 26, is still missing after he failed to return home from a solo climbing trip.

Day’s car and climbing gear were found yesterday. His car was found parked on Durlston road, and his climbing gear was found one mile west of Anvil Point.

Police believe it is possible Day was climbing unsupported.

Family and friends have been sharing Liam’s picture on social media in the hope someone will come forward with information.

“The man told his partner he was going climbing for the day but he failed to return home as normal. Every indication is that he did indeed go climbing on his own and we are very concerned that he may have come to some harm. It is possible that he may have gone deep water climbing which typically involves using a rope to lower down the cliff and then climbing back up unsupported.I am appealing to anyone who was in the Swanage area yesterday and saw a man climbing the cliffs or in the Durlston Road area to please contact Dorset Police”.

Liam is a member of Southampton’s mountaineering and bouldering societies – many other members went looking for him yesterday, when they heard he was missing.

Liam’s girlfriend, Emily Brown, shared his picture as she appealed for information on social media yesterday. Her post was shared more than 300 times as she told friends “I just want him home now”.

Liam, originally from Cumbria, is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, bald, with blue eyes and a ginger beard.

SUMC President Martin Wearn said yesterday “Liam is still an active member of our club and as such many of us knew him well. Numerous people have gone to Swanage this afternoon and evening to help try and search for him.”

A multi-agency search was launched yesterday, with two coastguard rescue teams from Swanage and St. Albans, two helicopters, and two RNLI lifeboats assisting Dorset police and rescue services  in the search for the 26-year-old student.

A spokesperson for the Swanage lifeboats said yesterday “Solent Coastguard requested the launch of both of Swanage’s lifeboats to assist in a multi agency search for a climber that had been reported as overdue between Anvil Point and Dancing Ledge. The lifeboats launched and were quickly on scene and searching. After about 20 mins a rope was found over the cliff about 50m West of the Western mile markers. A thorough search of the area was carried out and with nothing found the search area was expanded.

If you believe you have any information regarding Liam’s whereabouts, please call Dorset police on 101 and quote incident number 15:04.