A large scale search is underway in the East Cowes area tonight (Sunday) as multiple agencies work together to locate a high risk missing person.
Police are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of a woman who is believed to have gone missing from the Whippingham area earlier this evening.
The Island’s volunteer search and rescue team – WightSAR – have rendezvoused with Police and are now carrying out land searches around the East Cowes area.
HM Coastguard has tasked Cowes RNLI Inshore Lifeboat to conduct a shoreline search, with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge and Ventnor also mobilised to join the ongoing search efforts.
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter from Bournemouth is currently in the skies above the Isle of Wight searching the coastal area between East Cowes and Fishbourne.
Tonight’s search is one of the largest seen in recent years as all agencies work together in a bid to locate the vulnerable individual.
At the time of publishing, Police have not issued a public appeal for information.
UPDATE @ 02:30 – Island Echo understands that the woman has been located by search teams, with emergency medical intervention given.
Rather unusually for a missing person search, a fire appliance from East Cowes was also drafted in to make use of its onboard thermal imaging cameras.
UPDATE @ 10:50 – Police have confirmed that a woman in her 40s has died. Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/missing-woman-dies-after-being-pulled-from-the-sea-during-major-search/.
Many congratulations to the search teams involved with this and very proud that we have such an effective service when something like this happens.
Hoping the woman will get all the support she needs to get back to normal life.
So sad to hear that the lady died.RIP. Thoughts are with her loved ones
Why does it have to come to this before help is given? There is no help for mental health crisis especially at weekends.It is hard enough to get in touch with a gp at the best of times.Too little too late