Police, Coastguard Rescue Teams, lifeboats and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter have all descended on the Fishbourne area this afternoon (Tuesday) in the search for person feared to be in the water.
A large number of Police officers are present at the Wightlink ferry terminal on Fishbourne Lane, alongside HM Coastguard.
Coastguard Rescue Officers have begun a shoreline search in the immediate area. Meanwhile, Cowes RNLI lifeboat has launched and is conducting a search at the mouth of Wootton Creek.
The incident began sometime around 13:45.
Coastguard Rescue 175 from Lee-on-Solent is overhead and is conducting an aerial search of the Solent.
UPDATE @ 14:32 – Ryde Inshore Rescue have joined the search efforts, which are now stretching across the Solent to Portsmouth.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have been approached for a statement, as have Hampshire Constabulary.
UPDATE @ 15:06 – The search has been scaled up and now involves 3 Coastguard teams and 4 lifeboats from both sides of the Solent, alongsideRescue 175 helicopter.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard has said:
”Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge, Ventnor and Portsmouth, the RNLI lifeboats from Cowes and Portsmouth, the independent lifeboats from Ryde and Gosport and the Lee-on-the-Solent search and rescue helicopter are currently assisting Hampshire Constabulary with a search in the Fishbourne area”.
UPDATE @ 16:20 – It has been confirmed that the search is in relation to a missing person, a 30-year-old woman, who was feared to have gone overboard from the Wightlink ferry.
Enquiries have led Police to believe that the woman disembarked the ferry in Portsmouth and has not gone overboard.
The search has now been called off.
What a lack of communication!!
Brilliant communication from all the emergency services and a thorough investigation. You clearly have no idea of the situation at hand.