The search for a missing male in the vicinity of Culver Down in the East Wight is being conducted from the air, land and sea tonight (Wednesday).
Emergency services including the Police, HM Coastguard, the RNLI and Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 are focusing their search around the coastline of Culver Cliff, between Bembridge and Sandown.
Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Teams have been mobilised as ground assets, with Rescue Helicopter 175 from Lee-on-Solent drafted in to carry out an aerial search from the seaward side. Both the All Weather and Inshore Lifeboats from Bembridge RNLI have joined the search operation, which began at around 22:00.
Search and rescue teams are battling the weather – including torrential rainfall – in a bid to locate the high risk missing person.
No details of the person’s identity have been revealed at this stage.
UPDATE @ 23:58 – Coastguard Rescue 175 has returned to base, but the search continues.
WightSAR – the Island’s volunteer search and rescue organisation – has been called out to assist with the large-scale multi-agency operation.
UPDATE @ 04:07 – After several hours of searching in very wet and windy conditions, nothing has been found. Search teams have been stood down for the night.
Island Echo can reveal that the search is for missing 36-year-old Joe Winchester from Bognor Regis, who has been missing since Wednesday.
Joe is described as being 6ft 1in tall with short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a grey jumper and trousers, with mint green shoes and was carrying a yellow backpack.
UPDATE @ 13:45 – Island Echo understands that Joe was found alive and well elsewhere earlier today.
hope there is a happy and safe ending for all involved.
Expect more of this sadly
I didn’t know physiotherapists frequented culver?!
Search ring in wet & windy conditions.
I do believe they have waterproof clothing supplied, so the searchers should of stayed nice & dry!!
We watched the search, well done to all the people involved , the weather was horrendous, proud to see , such a good rescue response , just knowing there are great teams around for us , is a comforting feeling
Why waste their time on someone who’s clearly to far gone mentally? Geez, just leave them to it.