EXCLUSIVE PICTURES: HM Coastguard, the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, Police and ambulance crews are all involved in an ongoing rescue operation in Ventnor this afternoon (Sunday).
Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team have been joined by fire crews from Ryde and Ventnor in the area of Devils Chimney. Multiple Police officers are also on scene alongside an ambulance crew.
Island Echo understands 2 youngsters have become stuck on a cliff in the landslip. The alarm was raised at around 16:00.
UPDATE @ 17:30 – Emergency services have located the casualties and are preparing to go over the cliff edge to rescue them.
A fire appliance from Ryde has stood down, but the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescye Service’s Land Rover and a crew from Ventnor remain on scene assisting the Coastguard-led operation.
UPDATE @ 18:50 – 2 teenage boys have been hauled up the cliff to safety by Coastguard Rescue officers and firefighters.
Amazingly, the 2 youngsters – aged around 14 or 15 – have been uninjured in their ordeal which saw them stranded on a ledge half way down the landslip. They have not required any medical attention.
The alarm was raised when one of the casualties managed to get mobile phone signal to dial 999. The other lad’s phone had run out of battery.
After more than 2-and-a-half hours emergency teams are now making up their equipment and are preparing to leave the scene.
