UPDATED: HM Coastguard and Cowes RNLI are conducting a rescue on the River Medina in Newport this morning (Monday).
Officers from Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team are donning specialist rescue clothing at the water’s edge next to Newport Rowing Club, opposite the Isle of Wight Festival site.
1 casualty is already safely situated on the western bank of the Medina but there are a number of other casualties.
Cowes Lifeboat is on scene having been requested to launch by Solent Coastguard at 00:06. The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service are also in attendance with 2 ambulances.
UPDATE @ 01:30 – 2 people have been plucked from the chilly waters by a passing launch and successfully transferred ashore by Cowes RNLI Lifeboat and HM Coastguard.
Island Echo understands that a small boat carrying 3 persons capsized mid-crossing, throwing the trio – who weren’t wearing life jackets – into the water.
The casualties have now been conveyed the short distance to St Mary’s Hospital for further assessment.
The initial rescue vessel, a Dory, responded having heard a Mayday call on the airwaves – a Mayday issued by a yacht moored close by to the incident.
Ventnor CRT are baling water out of the casualty tender and are pulling it ashore.
UPDATE @ 02:40 – Emergency services have now stood down from the incident.
UPDATE @ 11:22 – It has emerged that the 3 persons – 2 men and a woman – had travelled up the River Medina to watch The Killers perform on the Main Stage to close this year’s Isle of Wight Festival.
Cowes RNLI Lifeboat helm, Mark Harker has said:
“They were very cold and stunned and because it was dark there was a good chance they could have been hit by one of the other boats milling around at the end of the festival.’’
