Emergency services are in attendance at an ongoing incident at Culver Down near Sandown this morning (Friday).
A large number of Police units are reported to be on scene at the top of the cliff overlooking Sandown Bay. They first responded to the area, for what is thought to be concerns for the welfare of an individual, at around 11:10.
It is understood HM Coastguard teams from Bembridge and Ventnor have been requested, alongside Bembridge RNLI’s lifeboat.
UPDATE @ 11:45 – HM Coastguard are now on scene, with Bembridge RNLI’s inshore lifeboat conducting a search of the rocks below.
Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent is now also involved in the incident and is conducting an aerial search of the area.
UPDATE @ 12:10 – Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat has joined the search and rescue operation this lunchtime.
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary has told Island Echo:
“We are currently making enquiries at Culver Down following concerns raised at 10.53am for the welfare of a person at this location”.
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Island Echo understands that the search is for a missing male.
UPDATE @ 13:25 – The search for the individual continues this afternoon as attentions turn to a vehicle parked in a car park at Culver.
2 Coastguard Rescue Teams, 2 lifeboats, a Coastguard helicopter and Police are all involved in the incident.
WightSAR – the Island’s volunteer search and rescue team – have been deployed at the request of the Police.
UPDATE @ 14:38 – The search for a man in his 20s has been called off and all resources have been stood down.
It has been confirmed that the individual has been safely located by officers.
It is thought he was located in Ryde.
it is really sad that there are very few sources of help for people, when they feel that after they have reached a cliff edge in their lives, they have no other alternative than to make their way to a real cliff edge at culver and consider taking one more step forward.
There is virtually nothing that cannot be sorted out and unless you have managed to make a monumental mess of your life, as a result of your own actions, then there is virtually nothing that cannot be redeemed, forgiven and forgotten. Almost everything has a solution that doesn’t involve creating a permanent consequence, to what could be a temporary problem.
Thankfully, this person must have been seen or let someone know that they were at culver, which is hopefully a good sign, that their cry for help has been heard. Hopefully they are not too late.
Instead of the NHS wasting money on vanity projects, such as cosmetic surgeries or spending out on more and more managers, perhaps they
should divert some of this money to mental health support centres, so that people can walk in off the street, rather than walk to the cliff edge.