Tributes paid to former Barrow man, 41, swept into rough seas at Blackpool
Last updated at 10:57, Friday, 04 January 2013
THE family of the man swept into rough seas in Blackpool say they are waiting for ‘the fateful call’ to say he has been found.
Paul Morris, 41, of South Shore in Blackpool, but formerly of Rawlinson Street, Barrow, was swept into the sea in gale force winds just after 12am on Tuesday.
Rescue services say that although a body has not been recovered, they are now certain that Mr Morris will not be found alive.
A statement released from his family yesterday afternoon read: “Paul is a hardworking man who enjoys spending time with friends and loves his family dearly. He has only recently moved back to Blackpool and we’re obviously shocked by what has happened and it’s a difficult time for us all, particularly as Paul can’t swim and we fear the worst.
“We’re now just waiting for that fateful call to say that he’s been found so we can have some closure.
“We’d like to thank all the emergency services for their efforts in trying to find and rescue Paul.”
Mr Morris has a mum, sister and two brothers.
According to police Mr Morris was walking a dog with two friends along steps that lead from the promenade to the sea near to South Pier, when a wave washed him and a friend into the sea.
His friend managed to climb out of the water but Mr Morris did not emerge.
Attempts to recover his body resumed yesterday morning, with officers from Liverpool Coastguard searching the beach around Blackpool’s South Pier, but the team had to finish the search with high tide due at 1.50pm.
Steve Cross, watch officer for Liverpool Coastguard, said: “If he did actually enter the water there is no hope of him surviving. It is a tragedy.”
The Duke of Cambridge Prince William, 30, was a member of a four-man Sea King helicopter crew scrambled from RAF Valley in Anglesey as part of the search, which was called off in the early hours of Tuesday.
Cumbria Police say they have been in contact with Lancashire police, who are leading on the response to the incident, and officers from Cumbria are offering support to members of the Morris family who are based in Barrow.
Liverpool Coastguard have indicated that no further search attempts are planned.
First published at 16:29, Thursday, 03 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Paul was very loving and an extremely good friend to me, we spent 6 months together working at the pig and whistle in Cartmel and he was an amazing head chef and would do anything for everyone. I must say your article is one of the best I have found about Paul, as others have made more of a story of who went to save him than the fact that a man has gone through some tragic accident. So thank you very much for that, he deserves the greatest write up ever, an amazing man. And will be deeply missed by everyone.
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Karen ,MAY and family, thinking of you all our deepest sympathy goes out to you all.RIP Paul from tan ,raph and dale x
Posted by Tanya Thorpe on 30 January 2013 at 18:47