Wolverhampton wedding day lake horror

A Wedding guest was today missing feared dead after going swimming in a fishing lake during a reception near Wolverhampton.

A police helicopter with thermal imaging equipment as well as firefighters in an inflatable boat searched the pool at Patshull Park Hotel & Country Club early today.

The missing man, who is aged in his early 20s, is from the Sedgley area and believed to be asthmatic.

He was one of three best men at a wedding involving families from Sedgley and Wombourne.

He went for a swim in the 35ft deep fishing lake at about 11 o'clock last night but failed to return.

Friends heard shouts for help and the alarm was raised. Some guests headed out to search for him.

He had been swimming towards boats on the opposite bank and had left his clothes at a jetty in front of the hotel.

The search of the mile-long lake next to the hotel and championship golf course at Burnhill Green, near Pattingham, continued through the early hours.

The missing man had given a joint speech with the two other best men following the wedding at St Chad's Catholic Church in Sedgley.

During the evening disco he and friends went out to the jetty.

It is believed friends went into the water to try to rescue him before emergency services arrived.

A member of the groom's family from Sedgley said today: "At first no-one knew exactly what had happened.

"Slowly it became clear that he was missing. Everyone was terribly distressed, especially the bride and groom and the missing man's sister."

The missing man's parents drove to the hotel as soon as they were told. Police this morning said the search was continuing.

Underwater search teams were this morning joining in the hunt for the wedding guest.