UPDATED: Yarmouth RNLI, the Needles Coastguard Rescue Team and Police are currently involved in the search for a possible missing person in Freshwater.
An extensive search is underway on both land and sea surrounding The Albion Hotel at Freshwater Bay.
Yarmouth’s All Weather Lifeboat was tasked to launch at 11:09 and is currently motoring around to Tennyson Down.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguwrd Agency has told Island Echo:
“UK Coastguard are currently searching the Freshwater Bay area for a possible missing person.
“We have Needles Coastguard and the Yarmouth RNLI All Weather Lifeboat on scene at the moment. The weather is extremely poor and we are advising members of public to keep away from the area whilst the search is ongoing.
“We have no further information at this time”.
UPDATE @ 13:10 – Officers from The Needles CRT have recovered a paddle and a shoe from the water at Freshwater Bay this lunchtime.
Yarmouth’s All Weather Lifeboat remains on scene and is conducting a steady search around the base of Tennyson Down and The Needles.
According to local sources, a paddle boarder (or similar) has gone missing in the area. A car situated in the main car park has been inspected by search teams, although it is currently unconfirmed if the vehicle is connected to the potential missing person.
UPDATE @ 13:50 – Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team have now joined the search efforts, although Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat has returned to station at Yarmouth Harbour.
A description of the missing individual and further details of the circumstances of today’s search are yet to be released.
UPDATE @ 16:00 – A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed that the search was sparked at around 11:00 this morning following the discovery of a pile of clothes.
No one has been reported missing at this time and the search is ongoing.
UPDATE @ 17:48 – A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has confirmed that the search has now been suspended.
At this stage, the search is not due to be resumed.
