The body of an individual has been found in the water off Yarmouth just hours after a major search was called off.
As previously reported by Island Echo, search and rescue resources were tasked to the area of Hurst Spit near Milford-on-Sea at around 20:30 last night (Wednesday).
It was reported that a person was in the water.
Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter, Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat, Lymington RNLI Lifeboat and Royal Marines were all involved in the search, with assistance from Needles Coastguard Rescue Team and Lymington Coastguard Rescue Team.
The search was called off at midnight with nothing untoward found by the search teams.
At around 11:00 this morning, members of the public on board a yacht found a body floating in the water to the north of Yarmouth.
Local assets including Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat, Lymington RNLI lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue 175 and Marine Police were redeployed to retrieve the body, which was taken ashore at Yarmouth Harbour earlier on this afternoon.
UPDATE @ 15:04 – Police have confirmed that the body of a man in his 80s has been located in the water at Yarmouth.
The death of the man from the New Forest area is not being treated as suspicious.
The man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported.
A file shall be prepared for the coroner.
How very sad
May he rest in peace. My deepest sympathies with his family. How tragic in these troubled times.
Very sad. RIP sir.
How sad this gentlemen had to end his life this way. RIP now.