The main route connecting Yarmouth and Newport is the subject of a police closure this afternoon (Sunday) as police and paramedics descended on the quiet town.
Around 14:30, an incident believed to be a medical emergency occurred on Tennyson Road, Yarmouth, where 4 units from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, including an armed response unit, arrived at the scene.
Police and paramedics are at the scene, working on what is believed by Island Echo to be a medical emergency of an unknown nature.
Despite the busy carriageway being closed from Thorley Road, a main cordon has been established further down the road towards the town centre, just past Yarmouth Cemetery.
Southern Vectis have issued a statement that their Route 7 and Needles Breezer services have been diverted. Further Information for those travelling to Yarmouth and Totland can be found on the Southern Vectis live service tracker.
The main route remains closed at this time.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary have been contacted for a statement.
UPDATE @ 17:25 – The road is now reopened in both directions.
Southern Vectis have confirmed that their Route 7 and Needles Breezer services have resumed to their usual timetabled route through Yarmouth.
UPDATE: 14/09/26 – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary have confirmed a male was pronounced dead on the roadside after they were called just after 14:00 to Tennyson Road, Yarmouth.
As first reported by Island Echo, the incident came through to officers as a suspected medical emergency.
The family of the elderly male have been notified and a file is being prepared for the coroner.
Why does a medical emergency need armed officers?
If it involves a knife for example, then an armed response is required, i think a knife in a human would be classed as a medical episode/emergency!
That’s what I was thinking
Armed response are the highest trained police officers in emergency first aid, they also double up as roads policing.
Could also be that they were the closest available unit at the time.
Armed response units tend to be the highest trained medical police and have medical equipment other units don’t (so they can save someones life after shooting them, or patch up victims etc.).
No doubt all will be revealed in due course
As fsr as I could tell when passing (before road closed) this was a man on ground on sidewalk with a few people helping. Not sure why it needed armed response units and road closures. IOW always seems to be print the whole army in first then see what happened. I suspect the poor person didnt make it 🙁
It’s a shame you’re ignorant. In a life threatening emergency the emergency services will send whoever is nearest with a defibrillator and training. That might be police, fire, a volunteer living nearby or ambulance service. I’m sure if you needed that help you wouldn’t complain about road closures
Ignorant? In gunville the other week they sent an air ambulance to a girl who aparently hit by a car. After being assessed an air ambulance called out and landed then realised oops ….lets take her to hospital 5 minutes away. In this case we dont k ow details but your right it probably was whoever got their first with defib not knife crime etc. But yes the road didnt need closed and better assessment needs to be done. Triage is very important in first few minutes not calling out an army and hoping someone shows up. Btw an ambulance was there, several police and suppose armed units which was used to dramatise story. So yes the only ignorance is not knowing what happened to get to that stage but closing the road for 2 to 3 hours with multiple units when most likely an ambulance could have sorted it.
I think you will find that armed response vehicles carry a defibrillator.