UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Police search Bournemouth beach after body pulled from sea (From Bournemouth Echo)

UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Police search Bournemouth beach after body pulled from sea

4:20pm Monday 11th March 2013 in News

A BODY was dragged from the icy seas at a Bournemouth beach on Monday morning, sparking a police search along the shore.

The man was pulled from the sea at Alum Chine at around 7.40am by a member of the public, with two passing cyclists administering CPR before the paramedics arrived.

But despite the frantic attempts to save his life, the man, believed to be aged in his 30s, was pronounced dead at Poole Hospital.

Afterwards police said the man had not been identified but they were not treating his death as suspicious.

Police and Poole Coastguard launched a search of the snowy beach from Poole to Bournemouth with officers and Coastguard personnel were also seen at Bournemouth Pier, which was already closed yesterday because of the weather.

Coastguards said they were checking the beach for “possible other persons” and for any of the man’s belongings.

The search was stood down when nothing was found.

Julierme Cassarotti Bruniera, a worker at Vesuvio restaurant at Alum Chine, saw the rescue efforts as he arrived for work.

“I arrived at work about 7.45am and saw the man was lying down”, he said.

“There were about three or four guys around him and the ambulance men were trying to save him.

“His body was surrounded by guys – two of them were cyclists I think.

“Other people were running to the scene to try and help.”

Julierme said up police and ambulance crews arrived “very quickly”.

He added: “When I saw him I thought this guy is dead; there were no movements or action from him.

“They tried to keep people away from the body.

“They were working very well; they tried everything.

“They tried to save him but I think he was already dead and then they took him away in an ambulance.

“They were doing CPR as they moved him.”

One person, who asked not to be named, said they saw the body being pulled out of the water.

He said: “Someone was pulled from the water and given CPR at the seafront. They looked like they were in a bad way.

“When the ambulance left, the Coastguards said they were looking for that person’s personal effects."

Phil Hinkley, Branksome Beach cleaner, saw the coastguards searching the beach at 8.30am.

He said: “The coastguards were looking for clothing or anything to do with the body.

“They were searching the shoreline and asked if I'd found anything.”

A police spokesperson said: “Dorset Police were called at 7.40am to a report of a man found in the water near Vesuvio at Alum Chine in Bournemouth.

“Officers and ambulance arrived at the scene. Sadly the man was pronounced dead at Poole Hospital.

“The deceased man has not yet been identified.

“The coroner has been informed and officers are making enquiries on his behalf.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious.”