2 people thrown into the water after their boat capsized have been rescued after spending some 5 hours floating in the sea off the Isle of Wight.
It was shortly before 23:30 last night (Wednesday) that HM Coastguard received reports of people shouting for help just off the coast at Priory Bay, between Seaview and St Helens.
Bembridge RNLI’s volunteer crew were paged to launch both the inshore and All Weather lifeboats, making best speed to the area.
Coastguard Rescue 375 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent was also scrambled, with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge and Ventnor mobilised.
It’s just off Nettlestone that the responding lifeboat crew quickly discovered 2 casualties floating in the water.
Their boat had capsized earlier in the evening, leaving the pair helplessly bobbing around in the sea for between 4 and 5 hours.
The 2 casualties were hauled aboard the lifeboat and rushed into Bembridge Harbour, where they were met by Coastguard Rescue Officers and paramedics from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
Both lifeboats returned to station by 01:30.
They were very lucky to have been heard at that time of night. Thank goodness they were saved