Swimmers' survival chances 'passed'

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The men, both aged 34 and "under the influence of alcohol", waded into the sea on Tuesday night near Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and were seen to get into difficulties after the tide turned.

More than 50 personnel, an RAF helicopter and lifeboats were called out after an initial call was received at 9pm.

The search stopped at 3am and resumed at 5am, but the Coastguard said they were now stepping down their efforts.

Speaking from where the men were last seen, near the Royal Pier Hotel on Birnbeck Road, a Severn sector spokesman for the Coastguard said: "We will initiate a low water search this afternoon, but we are scaling down. All chances of survival have passed."