HM Coastguard has been coordinating a rescue operation after a passenger ‘jumped’ overboard from a Wightlink ferry earlier this evening (Friday).
It was at around 19:00 that a passenger on board Wightlink’s Wight Ryder II Fastcat, travelling from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde Pier Head, decided to jump from the vessel into the Solent.
The alarm was immediately raised with Solent Coastguard, in turn alerting nearby vessels to the developing situation.
As a result, the crew of Wightlink’s car ferry Victoria of Wight sprung into action, swiftly deploying a rescue boat. At the same time, Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service was tasked to launch its lifeboat.
Eyewitnesses say the woman initially refused a life ring but has since been safely hauled aboard the rescue boat and transferred into the appropriate care.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard has confirmed that the casualty has been taken ashore and is in the care of the South Central Ambulance Service.
Wightlink is advising customers that owing to the incident, the Portsmouth-Fishbourne car ferry service is delayed this evening, by an unknown amount of time.
In addition, the 19:20 Fastcat sailing from Portsmouth and the 19:47 sailing from Ryde Pier Head have been cancelled.
The cross-Solent operator has said in a statement:
“Following a man overboard incident on the Fastcat this evening, Victoria of Wight, which was in the vicinity launched a rescue boat and the individual was recovered from the water.
“The Fastcat returned to Portsmouth Harbour with this individual who is now in the care of the emergency services”.
Maybe going forward Wightlink should man the doors
so no passenger can go outside on deck
PREVENTION is better than CURE
no – why should they – take responsibility for your self
Because numpties affect other passengers.
Whatever your name is mr smith enough is enough 20 plenty etc etc all you do is incite dickish comments. Why dont you get your self a job or did mummy and daddy leave childhood scars that you need to find an outlet being a keyboard warrior. Bless your simple little deprived life.
What was the point in returning to Portsmouth? The woman ( and all the other passengers) wanted to ro to Ryde…
Because they returned has a safety measure witching there only so far away from port they have to return to port in an emergency so why would you say why return i think you need yo have to rethink of your thoughts in a case like this
Even ferrys travelling from Liverpool they have been known to return to port when there’s been emergencys i know I was going from Liverpool once to Belfast and had return due to emergency
If you dont think theres any point returning we’ll your not very respectful
I can only imagine they have much BETTER professional
SO called authorities in Pompey.
Pompey have more plod and a better Hospital than the
Island.
Maybe you should bugger off there then,as you clearly dislike the island.
If you think that Pompey have more plod, then where the hell are they.
What is the point of your comment?
If she wanted to go to Ryde she wouldn’t have jumped off she forgot something and wanted to go back
It wasn’t a “man overboard incident” (quoting Wightlnk), surely, since the poor person was an obviously distraught woman. Perhaps Wightlink could update itself to use a phrase such as “person overboard incident”?
Oh dear. What next, ‘personholes’ and person- sized tissues? Nothing a tad more serious going on in the world for you to become exercised about, JS?
Why is it respectful to return to port when the majority havd paid to to their destination!? I don’t understand if the person took a decision to jump it’s not everyone else’s fault
Wow
and thats exactly what’s wrong with low iq daily fail readers like you…who thinks being a keyboard warrior keeps you anonymous!guess what it doesn’t see you around “Smelly jobby”
Maritime law states, a casualty is to be taken to the nearest safe port. So depending on where it happens, which I would imagine was nearer to Portsmouth than Ryde. Hence they were taken to Portsmouth.
I find it totally unacceptable in this day and age that we are still referring to a “man overboard” situation. Surely it should be “person or persons overboard”. To intentionally misgender someone during a tragic situation is truely shocking.