A BOLTON backpacker has gone missing while swimming in sharkinfested waters off the coast of Australia.

Michael Utley has not been seen since Saturday afternoon after going swimming with friends near Bremer Bay in Western Australia.

A huge search was launched — but had to be temporarily scaled back on Monday after a large shark was seen nearby.

Family and friends now face an anxious wait as the search for the popular 30- year-old enters its fifth day.

Mr Utley’s twin brother, Mark, who lives in Westhoughton, said: “We are keeping the faith and hoping he is somewhere on the coastline, which stretches for miles.”

Former Sharples School pupil Mr Utley went travelling last December, and met up with a group of friends, including some from Westhoughton.

He was swimming at Native Dog Beach when the group became caught in a riptide.

The others were washed up on the shore but Mr Utley is still missing.

Fifty people are involved in the search operation, which includes surf life-savers, helicopters, boats and police divers.

A shark attack has not been ruled out.

Mark said: “As soon as they were faced with the waves, they all knew they had to go back to the shore. We are just hoping he is found.”

He added: “There was a shark in the water and the police are not ruling anything out.

“There are rocks in the water and he could have hit his head but, as yet, he has not been found and we are hoping he is okay.”

Mr Utley’s mother, Susan, who lives in California, is flying back from Germany with her husband, Graham Liles, who works there.

Mr Utley also has two sisters, Suzanna, aged 33, and Victoria, aged 27, who both live in Horwich.

His father, Max, and his wife, Susan, live in Westhoughton.

Mark said: “My mum and my sisters are very upset.

“I have spoken to my mum on the phone and can tell she has been crying.

“I feel like I’m in limbo and have my moments. I had spoken to him on Friday and he was saying he was going to stay out there because he was making good money and when he got back that we should go into the property business together.”

Mark now plans to travel to Australia with his mother and, depending on the results of the search, will have to identify his brother’s body or celebrate his rescue.

He said his twin, who is a plasterer, is a keen traveller and had worked in Greece.

Mark said: “He was enjoying it in Australia and was looking forward to spending Christmas there. He would say he would just throw a shrimp on the barbecue in his Australian accent.

“Michael is really popular.

He works hard and plays harder, always living life to the full.”

Close friend John Claridge, aged 30, from Westhoughton, was planning on meeting Michael in Australia next year.

He said: “I am worried.

I am hoping he is still alive and hoping he can be found.

“You do hear stories about swimmers who go missing and are found seven days later.”

The Australian authorities are keeping the family updated daily about their progress.

Australian news has reported hopes of finding Michael alive are fading.

But said Mark: “The search is still continuing and people are out looking for him.”

A spokesman for the British Foreign Office added: “Officials from the British Consulate in Perth are in contact with the local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance.”