Naked swimmers spark search

2005-05-29 11:55

London - Three British men sparked a full-scale air and sea search after going for late-night swim and forgetting where they left their clothes on the beach, eventually going back to their hotel without them, police said on Sunday.

Lifeboats and a rescue helicopter were scrambled at Skegness, a seaside resort in eastern England, after a pile of clothes and footprints leading into the sea were found in the early hours of Sunday.

The search - described by police as "extensive" - was called off after three young holidaymakers went to a police station later on Sunday to explain the mystery.

The men said they had left their clothes on the beach to go for a late-night swim following a night out, but had been unable to find them when they got out and went back to their hotel without them.

"At about 04:00 this morning we reported we had found clothing and a mobile phone on the beach at Skegness, and due to footprints in the sand we were concerned the owners had gone into the sea," a Lincolnshire police spokesperson said.

"This set off an extensive search by coastguards and police but we eventually found the three young men safe and well.

"They had gone back to their hotel for a sleep after being unable to find their clothes."

- AFP