'Lucky' Scottish surfer Matthew Bryce survives for 32 hours after being swept out to sea

'Lucky': Matthew Bryce was found after 32 hours
Police Scotland/PA
Mark Chandler2 May 2017

A “lucky” surfer who sparked a major search after being swept out to sea has been found clinging to his board after surviving for around 32 hours in the water.

Matthew Bryce, 22, from Glasgow went missing after heading off to surf at 11.30am on Sunday off the Argyll coast in Scotland.

A major search was sparked when he failed to contact his family later that day, with the coastguard and RNLI helping to comb a large area of shoreline and sea.

Mr Bryce, from Glasgow, was eventually picked up by the Belfast coastguard helicopter at around 7.30pm on Monday, around 13 miles off the coast.

Survivor: Mr Bryce was found 13 miles from the coast
rubberlegs2/Flickr

Dawn Petrie, from the coastguard, told the BBC, said: "He was extremely lucky.”

She added: "He was kitted out with all the right clothing including a thick neoprene suit and this must have helped him to survive for so long at sea.

“He is hypothermic but conscious and has been flown to hospital in Belfast."

"He did the right thing by staying with his surfboard and that certainly aided his survival,” she said.

Chief Inspector Paul Robertson, from Dunoon Police Office, said: "The response to our appeal to find Matthew has been outstanding.

"It has been a real team effort and I would like to thank everyone who offered their assistance."

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