A man who was seen to enter the sea during the middle of the night – and not return – was rushed to hospital during the early hours of this morning (Monday) following a search and rescue operation to find him.
It was at around 00:40 that HM Coastguard was alerted to reports of a male entering the water between Ryde and Appley.
Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent was scrambled to conduct an aerial sweep of the immediate area, with both Ryde Rescue and Bembridge RNLI lifeboats launched to assist.
Thanks to the skill and perseverance of rescue crews, the male was eventually spotted by the helicopter with Ryde Rescue 2 lifeboat guided in to pluck the casualty from the sea.
He was rushed ashore to meet Coastguard Rescue Officers from Bembridge and Ventnor, who transferred the casualty into an awaiting ambulance.
Paramedics from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service rushed the male to St Mary’s Hospital for further assessment and treatment.
This morning’s incident comes less than 24 hours after the body of a woman in her 70s was recovered from the sea at Shanklin, as first reported by Island Echo.
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