Police and HM Coastguard are scouring the clifftop at Culver Down this afternoon (Tuesday) following the discovery of several personal items.
Island Echo understands that the urgent search follows the discovery of a number of items – such as a bag – near the cliff edge at around 13:30.
Police were first on the scene, with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge and Ventnor arriving shortly after.
Technical cliff rescue gear has been assembled and stakes driven into the ground to allow coastguard personnel to check beneath the cliff tops, however, so far nothing untoward has been seen.
There is no sign at the current moment of the nearby Bembridge RNLI or Coastguard Helicopter 175 being drafted in.
UPDATE @ 15:10 – The assistance of Bembridge RNLI’s D-class inshore lifeboat has now been requested with the volunteer lifeboat crew currently searching the base of the cliff.
A Police Search Advisor – known as a POLSA – is working alongside HM Coastguard to coordinate the search.
UPDATE @ 16:00 – The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter from Redhill in Surrey has been scrambled to the scene amid fears a person may be missing.
UPDATE @ 18:26 – The search – now into its 6th hour and in darkness – has intensified with additional resources called in.
Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent is conducting an aerial search around Culver and Sandown Bay. Meanwhile, on the sea, Bembridge’s All Weather Lifeboat has now been launched.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has not issued any missing person appeals.
UPDATE @ 20:45 – Coastguard Rescue 163, from Lydd in Kent, has now been tasked to assist with the ongoing search. Coastguard 175 has been stood down.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY – The search continues and has now entered its second day.
Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/search-for-person-feared-to-gone-over-cliff-edge-enters-second-day/.
