Missing South Stack climbers: two bodies recovered

Two bodies have been recovered by emergency crews searching for a pair of climbers missing off the coast of Anglesey.

A 48-year-old Sussex man and a man, 21, from Hampshire were reported missing by fellow climbers near North Stack near Holyhead on Saturday night.

Two bodies were found in the sea on Sunday, said North Wales Police.

The search involved a rescue helicopter from nearby RAF Valley and lifeboat crews.

The alarm was raised on Saturday at 22:15 BST by two other climbers the two men were supposed to meet.

An initial search was called off late on Saturday night and restarted on Sunday morning.

A rescue helicopter from RAF Valley and lifeboats from Holyhead and Trearddur Bay were involved in the search.

It also involved a coastguard rescue team from Holyhead and Cemaes Bay.

The RNLI said three lifeboat crews resumed a search for the climbers at 04:30 BST along with the search and rescue helicopter between North Stack and South Stack.

They searched at an area popular with climbers at Gogarth Bay at Holyhead Mountain between both North and South Stack.

The two men were found at the bottom of the cliff where they had been climbing and their bodies were roped together when they were found.

The men had been spotted by the crew of an RAF search and rescue helicopter from RAF Valley and their bodies were recovered by members of the Trearddur Bay lifeboat crew.

The tide was going out at the time. Conditions during the time of the search were not good with strong winds and rough seas.

The cliffs at South Stack, a RSPB reserve, are home to sea birds, including puffin, razorbill and guillemot.

North Wales Police say they have yet to confirm the identities of the bodies found in the sea.