Police have named 69-year-old Gayelynn Matthews as the missing woman at the centre of a major search and rescue operation off Bembridge, with officers saying they are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare.
Gayelynn, from Bembridge, was last seen at 11:30 yesterday (Saturday), with a number of her belongings found on the beach at Lane End, Bembridge overnight.
The discovery has prompted an extensive search involving 8 lifeboats, several Coastguard Rescue Teams, a Coastguard helicopter and a fixed-wing plane, as first reported by Island Echo.
Search efforts began during the early hours of this morning and continued again at first light, with search and rescue crews scouring both the water and shoreline on both sides of the Solent.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has now issued a public appeal as efforts to locate the 69-year-old continue.
Gayelynn is described as white, approximately 5ft 2in tall and of slim build, with blonde shoulder-length hair.
She has various tattoos, including a bee behind her right ear, an angel on her shoulder and a spiral pattern on her right hand.
If you think you’ve seen Gayelynn since she went missing, or think you might know where she is now, call Police immediately on 999 quoting incident number 44260422542.
