Police, WightSAR, HM Coastguard and Freshwater Independent Lifeboat are conducting a large scale search for a missing person at Freshwater tonight (Thursday).
Officers rushed to a public car park near Freshwater Golf Club at just before 20:00 when a vehicle belonging to a missing man was discovered.
A search has been launched involving The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team, Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team, Freshwater Independent Lifeboat and volunteers from WightSAR.
7 Police vehicles are also on scene including a dog unit.
Island Echo is told that air support from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) Bournemouth is likely to be called in to assist with the ongoing incident.
Coastguard Rescue Officers are currently conducting a search along the clifftop and are exploring over the edge, with Freshwater’s inshore lifeboat checking nearby coves.
Next of kin have been informed.
UPDATE @ 22:05 – NPAS Bournemouth has now been drafted in to conduct an aerial search of the area.
Yarmouth All Weather Lifeboat has also been tasked to conduct a shoreline search alongside colleagues from Freshwater Independent Lifeboat.
Meanwhile, search teams on the ground continue their extensive sweep of both the cliffs and nearby golf course.
UPDATE @ 22:20 – Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 from Lee-on-Solent has now also joined the search.
2 helicopters, 2 lifeboats, 2 Coastguard Rescue Teams and dozens of personnel are now involved in the search.
UPDATE FRIDAY @ 07:15 – The search was a male in his 70s was suspended shortly before midnight last night. Nothing was found.
Freshwater Lifeboat have launched again this morning.
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This is awful, my heart and thoughts go out to the family, we saw the RNLI boat go out and immediately checked here, again my thoughts and love go out to all ❤️
does anyone know who it is?
Good point may help us locate him
Would help to find out
Why Ms James?
Why does that matter to you exactly?
Heartbreaking! Hope they are found safe and well ! So thankful for all of the coast guard teams and the police ❤️
Here here! What an amazing group of people doing a very difficult job
Does anybody know of how important this man is and if police are doing checks on nearby areas
I’m sure whoever he is is important to his loved ones! What a strange question.
Nothing funny here.
Any news?
I hope this situation doesn’t end badly and my thoughts are with family and friends
Just like to say thanks to all our rescue teams, men and women who look out for us in all conditions.
They were still searching this morning at 0400…I was out with my camera, and was loads of torches shinning around and the 2 police walked along the beach… I feel for everyone involved in the search hope the guy is found safe and well!
Inappropriate. Not a time for puerile remarks.
I sincerely hope he’s found safe . His family must be going through an awful time. Thank you to all the rescue services.