Hafan Mor kayak search update as two men still missing
Police searches continue for two men last seen near Hafan Mor with inflatable kayaks, after a major Coastguard-backed rescue operation around Pwllheli found no trace of either man and was stood down on Thursday night pending further information from investigators. Connor Parfitt, 24, from Blackpool, and his work friend Simon were last seen heading toward the beach near Hafan-y-Mor on Tuesday evening and remain missing.
Key Takeaways
- Connor Parfitt, 24, and his friend Simon were last seen near Hafan Mor / Hafan-y-Mor, Pwllheli, around 6.30pm on Tuesday, July 21, with inflatable kayaks.
- HM Coastguard assisted North Wales Police from 12.19pm on Thursday, July 23, with rescue teams, RNLI lifeboats, a helicopter and a Coastguard aeroplane.
- Extensive searches found no trace; Coastguard involvement was stood down around 10.21pm Thursday pending further information.
- North Wales Police later confirmed the men remain missing and searches continue; Haven said it is assisting police.
- Anyone with information should contact North Wales Police on 101, quoting reference O118860.
What happened near Hafan Mor and why does it matter?
The pair were last seen close to the beach near Hafan-y-Mor on the Llyn Peninsula, believed to be heading toward the coast with inflatable kayaks. Connor had travelled to the area about three weeks earlier to start a job at the Haven caravan site, according to Hits Radio Lancashire reporting.
His brother Aaron said the family last heard from Connor around 6.30pm on Tuesday and have had no contact since. He described facing “so many questions and no answers” and asked for the appeal to be shared as widely as possible. Coverage of unresolved disappearances often sits with true crime and unsolved mysteries reporting when families are still waiting for answers.
Was the Coastguard search for the two kayakers stood down?
Yes — for Coastguard assets. According to an HM Coastguard update reported by North Wales Live, teams from Criccieth, Abersoch and Llandwrog were sent, along with RNLI lifeboats from Criccieth and Abersoch, a search and rescue helicopter and a Coastguard aeroplane.
HM Coastguard said it was called at 12.19pm on Thursday, July 23, to assist North Wales Police with a search for two overdue kayakers at Pwllheli. Extensive searches were conducted. With no trace of the missing people, the Coastguard operation was stood down pending further information at around 10.21pm that night.
Are Simon and Connor Parfitt still missing?
Yes. In a further update reported on Friday, North Wales Police confirmed the two men remain missing, with searches continuing beyond the Coastguard stand-down. A Haven spokesperson said: “We are assisting the police with their search.”
The men were identified in local reporting as Simon and Connor, with Connor named as Connor Parfitt, 24, from Blackpool. Anyone with information should contact North Wales Police via live webchat or by calling 101, quoting reference O118860.