A large-scale emergency response involving Coastguard Rescue Teams, a search and rescue helicopter and an independent lifeboat crew was launched at Whale Chine yesterday afternoon (Good Friday).
Concerns for persons potentially in difficulty on the coast led to HM Coastguard deploying multiple assets.
Needles Coastguard Rescue Team and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team were deployed to the scene off Military Road at around 16:00, alongside a Senior Coastal Operations Officer.
Coastguard Rescue 375 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent was also tasked and carried out an aerial search of the area between Blackgang and Atherfield.
On land, Coastguard Rescue Officers established operations at the cliff top, where a cliff technician was lowered over the edge to conduct detailed searches of the shoreline below.
At sea, Freshwater Independent Lifeboat assisted with the operation, completing 4 legs of a shoreline search in challenging conditions.
Following a thorough search of the area by all involved agencies, the incident was stood down and later confirmed to be a false alarm with good intent.
HM Coastguard has been approached for a statement.
“Concerns for persons potentially in difficulty” plus “confirmed to be a false alarm with good intent.” ?
It would have been of interest if the source of alarm had been stated. eg “from someone walking along the coastal path.”
Isn’t that the nudist beach, maybe someone was caught with their
pants down!
No it isn’t, besides if they were nudists they wouldn’t be caught with their pants down as they wouldn’t have any on!