Three people are arrested in murder probe after man 'went overboard on sailing boat and has not been found'

By WILL HALLOWELL, NEWS REPORTER Published: 23:44, 1 June 2026 | Updated: 23:45, 1 June 2026 A murder probe has been launched after a man went overboard from a sailing boat and is yet to be found. The unnamed man entered the water from a boat in Arne Bay in Poole Harbour, Dorset, between 8pm and 9pm last Friday. But a police report for a missing person was not made until two days later at 6.56pm on Sunday. Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after police launched an investigation.  They are a 46-year-old man from Poole, a 31-year-old man of no fixed abode and a 22-year-old from Essex. All three remain in police custody and are being quizzed by murder squad detectives. Dorset Police have so far released no details about the missing man. As part of the investigation forensic officers were searching a harbourside block of flats at Baiter Park in Poole on Monday evening.  Forensic officers were seen searching a block of flats at Walking Field Lane, Baiter Park, (pictured) in Poole on Monday evening  One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: 'Last night, I came back from a cycle maybe about 10pm. 'I saw there was a police van, maybe three or four police cars and then a whole bunch of police people outside the house. 'They were there until gone midnight. I went to bed at that point. 'Then this morning I see that they've got two police people stationed at the front and the back.' He added: 'They were trying to presumably keep it secure. Forensics showed up today, probably about 2pm. 'There's been police coming and going, bits of paper, forms, stuff like that. (I have) got no idea what's going on.' A spokesperson for the force said: 'Dorset Police received a report at 6.56pm on Sunday reporting that a man was believed to have gone into the water from a sailing boat in the area of Arne Bay between around 8pm and 9pm on Friday. 'An investigation is underway into the circumstances of him going missing and the subsequent reporting of the matter two days later. 'His whereabouts remains unknown and detailed searches are being carried out to try and locate him. 'As part of the investigation, three men - a 46-year-old from Poole, a 31-year-old of no fixed abode and a 22-year-old from Essex - have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody, with the arrests made to assist the investigation in gathering information and also to provide legal protection to those involved as enquiries continue. 'Officers are working hard to establish a clear picture of what happened and we would urge people to refrain from speculating on the circumstances of this incident as a thorough investigation is carried out into the matter.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.