HM Coastguard and the RNLI rushed to East Cowes this afternoon (Sunday) following reports of person in the water but when they arrived the ‘person’ was just a large floating tree.
Coastguard Rescue Teams from Ventnor and Bembridge were first tasked to the scene on Esplanade in East Cowes just after 15:00 following reports of a possible person in the water.
Cowes RNLI Lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 187 from St Athan in Wales were also called to assist in the rescue efforts.
Luckily, once on scene it was confirmed that the object sighted was in fact a large piece of tree.
Cowes Harbour Commission assisted and towed the object to Kingston Marina.
A Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team spokesperson has said:
“The first informant did exactly the right thing by dialling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.”
Well done all and especially for the person who called it in
Maybe they should invest in a pair of Binoculars
or take a trip to Specsavers.
Why did the helicopter have to come from so far away,? !! Questions need to be asked
Probably due to the weather conditions the local
ones were probably attending to other calls.
Cowes Harbour Master and/or Cowes inshore lifeboat would have got there in minutes to ascertain the situation, the “casualty” being in sight from land. Why on earth call a helicopter from WALES prior to a definite request from them?
Thank goodness it was a peace of wood “it could have been a blue titter”