Bembridge RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 175 have responded to reports of a suspected migrant boat drifting off the coast of the Isle of Wight.
At 09:39 this morning (Tuesday) Solent Coastguard received reports of a vessel drifting around 12 nautical miles south of the Island.
Bembridge’s All Weather Lifeboat was launched in response to the sighting at around 10:00, with Coastguard Rescue 175 also scrambled from Lee-on-Solent.
It has been confirmed by HM Coastguard that nobody is at risk and the boat is being retrieved.
Bembridge Lifeboat and her crew are currently heading north back towards the lifeboat station.
UPDATE @ 14:55 – The boat, which has been described as an inflatable, has been successfully recovered to Bembridge Lifeboat Station.
Lifeboat crew members were able to deflate the inflatable’s tubes and haul it onboard via the transom flat.
Border Force is expected to arrange the disposal of the vessel, which was found with a 40hp engine and life jackets onboard.
Who was on board the thing? No mention
Perhaps they made it ashore to St Lawerence?
Ignorance is not a virtue !