Search and rescue teams swung into action during the early hours of this morning (Monday) following a Mayday alert off the Isle of Wight.
A spoken Mayday call – the most serious distress signal – was broadcast over Marine VHF Channel 16 stating St Catherine’s Point as the location.
Solent Coastguard tasked Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team to conduct a shoreline search between Castle Haven and Chale Bay at 03:45.
At 04:30, Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat was also tasked to join the search. The Tamar-class lifeboat arrived on scene and began their search at 04:15, sweeping along the coast to Blackgang Chine and back again.
Despite a thorough search, nothing was found. Bembridge Lifeboat was stood down at around 05:50.
Today’s incident is the 86th for Ventnor CRT this year and comes after a busy weekend for the volunteers.
Obviously another hoax putting all the rescue services at risk. I hope whoever’s made the mayday call is found and prosecuted.
I hope they need rescuing one day but all the services re too busy dealing with a hoax call #justice.