UPDATED: Coastguard Rescue Teams from The Needles and Ventnor are this afternoon (Friday) working to rescue two kayakers who have become stuck on the rocks at Freshwater Bay.
The male and female are said to cut off by the tide in the area of Stag Rock and a full cliff rescue operation is underway to safely bring the pair ashore after their kayaks got swept away in the rough sea with winds gusting at 35knts.
The Yarmouth RNLI All Weather Lifeboat is also on the scene. Emergency services were alerted to the incident at around 11:40 and the situation is ongoing.
UPDATE @ 13:05 – Both persons have been successfully rescued to the cliff top and have now been passed into the care of the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service suffering with slight hypothermia.
Yarmouth RNLI has been stood down and both The Needles and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Teams are packing down to leave the scene.
Meanwhile in Sandown, Bembridge Coastguard Rescue and Bembridge RNLI have been assisting a windsurfer in difficulty a quarter of a mile off of Culver Cliff.
Following a report from a member of the public at 11:50 that a windsurfer had got into difficulty, the All Weather Lifeboat from Bembridge alongside Coastguard teams from the village rushed to the scene at Yaverland, where the strong tide was quickly pushing the male surfer towards the rocks.
Thankfully, the windsurfer has been brought ashore and is understood to have suffered no serious injuries.
UPDATE @ 13:05 – Following the safe return of the windsurfer to the beach, Bembridge Coastguard Rescue have stood down and Bembridge RNLI lifeboat is returning to station.
Martin Groom, Bembridge Coastguard Station Officer said:
“Although cold and exhausted, the gentleman was otherwise unhurt.
“We were pleased to be able to offer him a lift back along the beach as he had drifted most of the way towards Culver and due to the tide conditions we could drive along to beach and offer assistance “.
Photo: Culver Cliff thanks to Jen Cook
