A multi-agency rescue operation, involving Police and HM Coastguard, is underway to save a casualty in the water off Ryde Pier this lunchtime (Wednesday).
A plethora of Police resources first descended on the beach to the West of Ryde Pier at around 11:40 following reports of a person in difficulty.
Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team has now arrived on scene, with assistance provided by staff from Rebel Marine who are working on the nearby pier.
Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 has been scrambled from its Lee-On-Solent base, with a paramedic dropped on the shore via a winch to assess the casualty.
An ambulance crew, operational commander and critical care paramedic from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service are now also in attendance.
Both of Bembridge RNLI’s lifeboats – the All-weather and D-Class inshore – are currently standing off the shoreline, awaiting any further taskings.
UPDATE @ 12:18 – The casualty – a woman – has been stretchered off the beach and into an awaiting ambulance.
It’s thought she was pulled from the water by a member of the public.
UPDATE @ 12:30 – The woman has been rushed to St Mary’s Hospital under blue lights for further assessment and treatment.
Coastguard Rescue 175 has successfully winched its paramedic back onboard and is returning to Lee-on-Solent.
As the incident draws to a close, officers from Needles Coastguard Rescue Team have arrived on scene.
UPDATE @ 13:51 – A spokesperson for Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has said:
“We were called at 11.38am today (19 February) to a report of a concern for the safety of a woman in the water near Ryde Pier.
“It was also reported that a man had entered the water.
“Emergency services attended the scene and they were both located. The woman has been taken to hospital to receive treatment”.
under blue lights…ok i needed to know that,was it also makeing a weeehoo weeehoo sound from the ambulance??
Can we assume that the ‘ operational commander and critical care paramedic’ also returned to normal duties? I must admit to once again wondering what all these operational or Gold/silver commanders actually do. They seem to attend every accident and incident on the Island, yet they don’t seem to have any actual role in the treatment of the patient. Are they perhaps just there to supervise the other staff?, and what rank do they hold?, are they medically trained?, do they treat or just watch? We have seen this ‘new’ personnel turn up at the drop of a hat, and when the NHS is in a terrible mess, it seems strange that they can employ, what appears to be, senior managers to just show up. Here’s an idea, stop employing management and start employing trained paramedics and perhaps give them the commanders vehicles to attend and help victims of accidents and injuries.
Another incorrect us of the word “plethora”. Plethora means a very large amount of something, especially a larger amount than you need, want, or can deal with in other words “plethora” means too much or too many.
Probably a pathetic pursuit of police plethora alliteration