Scallop diver rescued off coast

An air and sea rescue operation was put into action when a scallop diver went missing off the Dorset coast.

The 41-year-old man became separated from his support vessel close to Lulworth Cove on Monday afternoon.

Three rescue boats were launched as well as the RNLI inshore lifeboats from Weymouth and a helicopter.

The diver, who was not carrying a surface detection aid, was picked up uninjured almost three miles away in Ringstead, near Weymouth.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the man and a woman had set off at 1040 BST and they were collecting scallops, but he failed to resurface.

Mark Rodaway, from Portland Coastguard, said: "He was difficult to locate because he was not carrying a surface detection aid.

"However, he is safe and well and the fact that he was wearing a drysuit increased his survivability.

"We would always recommend that clear plans are made for dive trips and that dive boats know exactly how they will proceed should they lose a diver."