UPDATED: SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION TO FIND PERSON IN THE SEA UNDERWAY AT FRESHWATER BAY

A multi-agency search and rescue operation has been launched to locate a person reported to be in the water off Freshwater Bay this morning (Thursday). HM Coastguard is coordinating the response to the ongoing incident, which began at around 09:35. It had been reported to the emergency services that a person had been sighted in the sea – in what are currently adverse weather conditions. Yarmouth RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat has been launched with Coastguard Rescue Teams from The Needles and Ventnor also mobilised. Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent has also been scrambled. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary and the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service have also been alerted and have resources on scene. UPDATE @ 12:31 – Police have confirmed that a body has been located and recovered from the sea at Freshwater. Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/tragedy-at-sea-as-body-is-pulled-from-the-water-at-freshwater/.