UPDATED: Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter are involved in 2 ongoing incidents off the West Wight coast this evening (Sunday).
Island Echo readers are reporting that the Lee-on-Solent helicopter is currently circling the Western Solent at low altitude and has winched down a crew member onto a yacht.
In a separate incident, Yarmouth Lifeboat is making speed towards The Needles having been requested to launch by Solent Coastguard at 20:08. Further information is currently unavailable.
Both the lifeboat and helicopter are currently in the area between Colwell Bay and The Needles.
UPDATE @ 20:48 – Coastguard Rescue 175 has now left the scene and has flown directly to Southampton General Hospital, indicating a potential casualty.
Meanwhile Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat is conducting what appears to be a search between The Needles and Milford-on-sea.
UPDATE @ 22:35 – It has been confirmed that the Coastguard helicopter has airlifted a man suffering serious injuries from a yacht off Colwell Bay. The rescue resource was called into action at around 19:30.
It has also been confirmed that Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat has towed a small motor cruiser into Yarmouth Harbour, where safety advice was issued to the crew of the casualty vessel by Needles Coastguard Rescue Team.
