UPDATED: HOUSEBOAT EMERGENCY SEES AIR AMBULANCE SCRAMBLED TO BEMBRIDGE

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has landed on the Embankment in Bembridge this morning (Friday) in response to a serious medical emergency onboard a houseboat. 2 flying medics have joined the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service in responding to the incident between the villages of St Helens and Bembridge. A local ambulance crew, critical care paramedic and operational commander are already in attendance. Emergency services were alerted to the situation shortly before 11:25. Embankment Road remains open in both directions with the distinctive yellow and green helicopter landing in scrubland off the carriageway. UPDATE @ 12:15 – At the request of the ambulance service, HM Coastguard is now in attendance with a Coastguard Rescue Team from Bembridge. The female patient has been removed from the houseboat and onto dry land, where doctors are now carrying out further interventions ahead of the patient being conveyed to hospital. UPDATE @ 13:01 – The patient has been airlifted directly to Southampton General Hospital by the air ambulance. The incident has now been brought to a close. UPDATE Tuesday – Sadly, despite the best efforts of all the emergency services, 68-year-old Elaine Lowe died following a stroke, her husband has confirmed. Elaine has been described as one of the kindest, nicest and caring people who spent her time caring for other people. She was a great supporter of the Cats Protection League and Friends of the Animals. Over the past 6 weeks she had spent time caring for a neighbour, who also suffered a stroke.