Police and HM Coastguard rushed to a tourist hotspot in the West Wight this afternoon (Sunday) following reports of a very young child going missing.
At just before 14:25, a frantic 999 call was made reporting that a child had disappeared at Compton, off Military Road.
5 Police units – including officers already dealing with an incident at Albert Road in Ventnor – responded to the scene, with Coastguards from Ventnor and The Needles also alerted to the urgent situation.
Thankfully, the child was located safe and well at just before 14:45.
Compton is popular year-round, especially with surfers, but is particular busy during the Summer holidays with hundreds of cars descending on Hanover Point every day.
If you or someone else is in difficulty on the coast or at sea, or if you spot what you think may be unexploded ordnance, then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Further safety information can be found at https://coastguardsafety.campaign.gov.uk/.
Get help faster by giving emergency services your exact location by using ///what3words.
what3words have divided the world into 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words, which means when you are in a remote area of the Isle of Wight you can get assistance much quicker without the need for local knowledge.
Il be the first, in mood for a row anyway: Parental responsibility?
Your children=YOUR responsibility, not mine and everyone else’s. Stop being so damn entitled.
Likely parents too busy staring at a screen to notice ‘real life’.
Sea is very dangerous and the undertow will suck a child out in seconds.
Why do the parents not keep an eye on their children, they are irreplaceable? The coast line is so dangerous.
There is a HUGE difference between a woman/girl who has had a child, and a real Mother.
Sadly now, thanks to being given free housing, free council tax, free health/dental care, and paid too much in child tax credits to worry about getting pregnant, the former are overtaking the latter.
Maybe not in this case, but the poorest, dimmest and most careless seem to always have the most offspring now.
Beaches are one of the most dangerous places, with the extreme heat, pedo’s, and of course the unpredictable waves.
Likely as stated the ‘screen’ has more appeal than the child’s safe care now.
A very detrimental bigoted opinion with no facts or knowledge .
I agree with Emma , small children can be like Quick Silver , avert ones eyes for a minute and they have disappeard, to them its just a game .
Bloody good jobs these parents dont pilot licences then.
Name me an honest parent that has never lost a young child. Normally it is only for a minute and in a safe environment.
Just what gives you the right to tell me my mother was a bad, irresponsible parent? Did you know her?
As usual, you have no idea of reality and are living in cloud-cuckoo-land.