20 year old Diver missing, Swanage, Dorset, on the south coast of the UK

The family of a 20-year-old diver who went missing near Swanage, Dorset, on the south coast of the UK, has issued a statement after the search to locate her was called off. Emily Sherwin was diving off the popular dive site of Old Harry Rocks, located on the southern tip of Studland Bay, approximately 3 miles (5km) north of Swanage, when she failed to surface following the dive on the evening of Tuesday, 23 July. joint search operation was launched by Dorset Police, HM Coastguard and the RNLI , while a dive team from Avon and Somerset Police conducted underwater searches in the area where Ms Sherwin had last been seen. Tragically, the joint operation was unable to locate Ms Sherwin and the search was stood down on Wednesday evening. The tragedy is the second to strike the area in recent months, following a similar incident when emergency services were forced to call off the search for a missing diver in May. a statement issued through Dorset Police, Ms Sherwin’s family said ‘We are heartbroken at the loss of Emily, but eternally grateful for the 20 wonderful years we had with her, and finding comfort in the fact that she was doing something she loved. ‘Emily was unique: high spirited, outgoing, loving and loyal. She lit up every room. Emily adored the sea and loved sailing and diving. She was looking forward to an exciting career in marine conservation. We would like to thank all involved in the attempts to find Emily: the RNLI and coastguard teams, the police divers and all at Parkstone Yacht Club who took over 30 boats to join the search. The search operation was a testimony to the impact she had upon everyone she met and the love we all share for her. We will miss her forever