UPDATED: A body has been discovered off the coast of Sandown this afternoon (Sunday).
Bembridge RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue 104 helicopter are on scene around half a mile off the coast, where a body is understood to have been found floating in the water by a passing ferry at around 17:30.
Brittany Ferries’ cross-Channel ferry ‘Bretagne’ has been stationary in the vicinity for around 45 minutes, but has now continued on her route to Portsmouth.
Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team and Police are attending Bembridge Lifeboat Station at Lane End, where they will rendezvous with Bembridge Lifeboat as the crew bring the body ashore.
UPDATE: Bembridge RNLI have used their Y-Boat from the All Weather Lifeboat to recover the unidentified body, which has now been handed over to Police at Bembridge.
It is understood the body is badly decomposed, suggesting it had been in the water for some time.
UPDATE MONDAY: Hampshire Constabulary have confirmed that the body is that of a currently unidentified male.
An investigation has been launched by the force to establish the circumstances behind the incident and to confirm the identity of the deceased.
The death is being treated as unexplained at this stage.
UPDATE MONDAY @ 14:30 – The family of missing 26-year-old Nitin Woocheet from Portsmouth have been informed of yesterday’s discovery, although formal identification of the body is yet to take place.
Mr Woocheet was reported missing by his family when he failed to arrive home as expected on 18th March, over 5 weeks ago.
Hampshire Constabulary had been investigating reports of a man shouting for help in the water off Southsea Common on Friday 18th March and were looking into whether or not the report was linked to Mr Woocheet’s disappearance.
The death is being treated as unexplained.
