Search and rescue helicopter dispatched from Humberside to Formby

Once over Formby, the helicopter entered a series of repeated search patterns just offshore, making numerous parallel passes over the same stretch of coastline before eventually returning to Humberside.

The entire mission lasted 165 minutes, during which the helicopter travelled 356 miles at an average speed of 130mph, reaching a maximum altitude of 3,575 feet.

Around an hour searching

Based on the aircraft's average speed and the approximate distance between Humberside Airport and Formby, around 99 minutes of the flight would have been spent travelling to and from Merseyside.

That suggests the helicopter spent approximately 66 minutes conducting its search off the Formby coast before heading back to Humberside. While the figure is an estimate, the distinctive flight path clearly shows the aircraft repeatedly covering the same area for an extended period.

Reason for the search unknown

The reason for the operation has not yet been confirmed.

HM Coastguard helicopters are regularly tasked with searches for missing people, vessels in difficulty, medical emergencies and other incidents around the UK's coastline. Not every deployment results in a public statement.

Hello Formby has contacted HM Coastguard for more information and will update this article if a response is received.

The tide on this stretch of coast comes in fast, and anyone walking out towards the water can check the Formby tide times before setting off.