On Air Now Gavin Harris Sunday Breakfast 7:00am - 10:00am Benson Boone - Beautiful Things Schedule

Bembridge RNLI And Coastguard Rescue Teams Conducting Sailor Search

Stock Image

RNLI and Coastguard Rescue teams are searching for a sailor who is thought to have fallen overboard from his vessel this afternoon (Monday).

Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team has been called to the incident near Whitecliff Bay, around two miles south-west of Bembridge.

Meanwhile, Bembridge RNLI's lifeboats have been launched to perform a search of the location.

We are awaiting further updates of the situation.

UPDATE 4.40pm

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard confirmed the search is ongoing, saying:

"HM Coastguard is responding to a report of a drifting vessel and a person in water in the Whitecliff Bay area this afternoon.

"Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge and Ventnor, the Coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent and RNLI lifeboats from Bembridge and Selsey together with Sandown Independent Lifeboat have been sent in response.

"Several vessels have also responded to a mayday relay broadcast to assist in the search."

VIDEO: Sandown Lifeboat searching The Bay area:

*UPDATED

*At 2.22pm Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 175 (which had also been tasked) identified a possible casualty in the water to the west of the Bay.

The Norman Harvey quickly located the unconscious casualty who was immediately transferred to the Alfred Albert Williams and having had Rescue 175's paramedic winched onboard headed at full speed to Portsmouth Camber. Arriving at 2.56pm the casualty was subsequently transferred to an ambulance.

More from Isle of Wight News