Family clinging to hopes

There has been no sign of tragic Charlie Morrell, 15, and Matthew Myburgh, 16, since they were knocked off rocks by a huge 35ft wave on Thursday night.

A trainer, baseball cap and shellsuit bottoms thought to have belonged to the two lads have since been found washed up in Lulworth Cove.

And although police believe their dive teams are now searching for the bodies of the pair, Charlie's family believe he is still alive.

His sister Rosie, 22, said the youngster is a strong swimmer and they hope he has been swept to a remote cove or inlet further along the coast and is awaiting rescue.

His family spent the weekend searching the shore of nearby Chapman's Pool, two miles to the east of Lulworth Cove.

She said: "We hope Charlie is out there, hanging on. He is a fit lad and a strong swimmer.

"Because of the weather conditions and the strong current we believe he has been swept to somewhere like Chapman's Pool and is in a cove or an inlet of water waiting to be found.

"That is why we have been searching and we want walkers and fishermen to look out in case he is there.

"This has obviously hit the family really hard but we aren't giving up and in our hearts we believe he is still alive."

It is believed Charlie's mother Sue Morrell made her way back from Italy on Saturday in the hope of joining the search.

An Echo source told how Sue had called in a psychic who advised that Charlie was still alive but had a broken leg and was clinging to rocks.

"She was saying he could see the search lights and that they needed to get more helicopters up - the police started to take what she was saying seriously" - the source added.

Charlie and Matthew went missing when they and friend Richard Lawrence, 15, went to the western lip of the cove at 7pm on Thursday to watch the huge waves in the storm.

Richard, who was standing on a ledge a few feet above his pals, watched in horror as the pair were washed into the sea by a huge wave.

Richard tried to reach out for the two but as he did he was also swept into the water.

Luckily, he was thrown back to the shore by the raging sea and managed to get out and raise the alarm.

A massive air and sea search involving 120 people was launched but to no avail.

Police divers couldn't continue their search of the seabed yesterday because of force eight 60mph winds which whipped up a 10ft sea swell.

The conditions were so bad that a police dive boat capsized in the rough sea.

Luckily nobody was on board at the time.

On Sunday special prayers were said for Charlie and Matthew at the village church in West Lulworth, where the boys are from.

Reverend Bob Naylor led the prayers at the Holy Trinity Church. He said: "The village is bleeding from what has happened. We are bleeding for Matthew and Charlie and we pray for them and their families. What they are going through, God only knows.

"But we are really thankful for the safety of Richard."

Survivor Richard broke down in tears as he visited the scene of the tragedy on Saturday. The keen rugby player, who was wearing a bandage on his hand from where he was injured in the water, was consoled by Matthew's father Johannes.

Mr Myburgh and his family have kept a constant vigil at the waters-edge, watching the divers and search teams carry out their grim work.

Inspector Mark Dobbs, of Dorset police, said the items of clothing were found on a small beach on the eastern side of the C-shaped cove.

He said: "We found the shellsuit bottoms today and we are almost certain they belong to one of the lads.

"We are building a picture that the boys are probably within the cove area and we are going to continue our efforts there.

"Matthew's family are still very distressed and are feeling helpless because all they can do is wait for news.

"They are frustrated that we can't bring this to a close because they want some closure to all this. But we are working as fast as we can."

Dorset police chief constable Martin Baker visited the scene on Sunday and met with Matthew's family.

First published: November 7