Police now believe a missing Jurby teenager fell into the harbour at Ramsey in the early hours of New Year’s Day.
Officers looking for missing Joshua Caley, 19, say this is now undoubtedly a search and recovery operation.
Joshua’s parents who raised the alarm with police on Friday morning after he failed to return home from a night out have been notified and are being supported by local officers.
Police say CCTV footage of the harbour area in Ramsey shows what is almost certainly Joshua who tragically appears to have fallen into the harbour just after 1am on New Year’s Day.
The footage shows a male believed to be Joshua fall into the water near to the Mezeron Shipping company on the East Quay and clearly failing to get back to safety.
A spokesman said: ‘This is undoubtedly a search and recovery operation now given the timescale of the incident and a co-ordinated search will continue today of the surrounding harbour and water areas in conjunction with the Isle of Man Coastguard.
‘Efforts are presently being focused around the harbour and the immediate beaches outside of that area.
‘Members of the public are urged to contact the Emergency Services Joint Control room if they see anything of note on or around the coastal areas but are advised to leave the trained staff to conduct their operations in and around the harbour.
‘There may be restricted access to some areas of the harbour as the search continues. The control room can be contacted through police headquarters on 631212.’
Police thanked everyone involved in an extensive search conducted around Ramsey and the north of the island through last night in horrendous weather conditions, which involved some 40 staff.
The was supported by the Civil Defence, Fire Service, Coastguard and a specialist search dog from the Search and Rescue Dog association.
‘The response from the public was really positive, including friends of Joshua who came forward with detailed accounts of their movements. Our thoughts are with Mr and Mrs Caley at this sad time and all efforts will now focus on the search today,’ the police spokesman added.