Hunt continues for couple whose car washed up on beach

THE search for a couple whose car was found washed up on a beach as 30-foot waves battered the coast will resume today.

couple

James and Susan Kenneavy (Image: Police Scotland/PA Wire)

James and Susan Kenneavy’s Ford Kuga was found empty on Drummore beach near Stranraer, Wigtownshire, at around 7.30am on Thursday. The nearby coastal road was closed on Wednesday after it was flooded by mountainous seas, and police fear the couple’s car was swept away. Mr Kenneavy, 79, and his 65-year-old wife often took their dogs for a walk along the beaches near to Scotland’s most southerly point.

Air, sea and land searches continued yesterday but were stood down as darkness fell last night.

Police Scotland said search teams will return to the area over the weekend.

A force spokesman said: “We were assisted by the local lifeboats, Galloway Mountain Rescue Team, Coastguard and Rescue 936 search helicopter as we continued our search of Luce Bay.

“At this time the search has been stood down. However, 20 members of Police Scotland’s mountain rescue team will deploy tomorrow to continue the coastline search.

“Local residents will continue to see an increased police presence in the area.”

Officers said the couple have not been seen at home in Drummore and have not been in touch with friends or family.

The Rhins of Galloway peninsula was pounded by huge waves up to 30 feet at the height of Storm Diana.

beach

The couple's car was found empty on Drummore beach near Stranraer, Wigtownshire, on Thursday (Image: George W Johnson/GETTY)

Inspector Craig Nicolson said: “We are very worried about Mr and Mrs Kenneavy. We know the Drummore coastal road was closed last night [Wednesday] due to coastal flooding, but I would ask anyone that has seen the vehicle or knows the whereabouts of the couple to contact Police Scotland.

“We have been carrying out searches in and around Drummore all day with the assistance of the coastguard and these searches remain ongoing.”

The search is being coordinated by Belfast Coastguard and Police Scotland, while the Drummore and Portpatrick Coastguard teams have been combing the shoreline for several miles.

Mrs Sally McKean, who owns the Queen’s Hotel in Drummore, said: “Everyone is shocked and hoping the couple are found safe and well. It was horrendous, absolutely horrendous, here on Wednesday. 

“We know the road was really bad with the high winds and high tide. Jim and Susan are well known and we regularly see Susan out with her dogs. They are very well known in the village, have been here for a long time and were involved in the local community.”

Liam Colquhoun, a maritime operations specialist with Belfast Coastguard, said: “We have brought in the rescue helicopter and the lifeboats from Stranraer and Portpatrick. The car was spotted by a council worker cleaning the road so there’s no idea how long it was there. We were told the car was locked when it was found but their house has been checked and there’s no one in. There’s no guarantee they’re in the water but we assume, if they were OK, they would have contacted someone."

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