UPDATED: LAND, SEA AND AIR SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR CRASHED VESSEL

A search by land, sea and air is underway in the North Wight this evening (Saturday) to locate a stranded motor vessels. The mayday call first came in at about 21:15 this evening, with initial fears that the vessel has collided with the breakwater off the coast. Coastguard Rescue Officers from Ventnor and Bembridge were quickly deployed to both sides of the River Medina respectively. Cowes RNLI was paged from its nearby boathouse and immediately searched the breakwater, but – along with the help of Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 – the vessel wasn’t located. Search efforts have moved on to further down the Medina towards Newport. Island Echo understands that Red Funnel has sent 1 of its rescue boats out to assist in the efforts. The search continues. UPDATE @ 23:00 – CG 175 has since stood down from the incident following an extensive search of the Medina. Efforts to locate the vessel – which was seen earlier in day with a total of 4 passengers on board – have been scaled down, but they remain ongoing.