A van has gone over the side of a cliff and plunged onto the rocks below between Compton and Freshwater this lunchtime (Wednesday).
Emergency services have responded to the scene with Police taking up position on the cliff top off Military Road.
HM Coastguard has joined the response alongside Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat.
Island Echo readers reported the incident at around midday stating a heavy police presence in the area.
A police cordon has been erected around the immediate area whilst operations are underway to establish if any persons are within the vehicle.
It is understood the van has gone over at the cliff’s highest point near to Freshwater Golf Course.
UPDATE @ 13:15 – A spokesperson from HM Coastguard has indicated that it is thought nobody is in the vehicle.
Investigations are ongoing at this time with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Ventnor and The Needles on scene.
Yarmouth RNLI has launched their ‘Y’ Boat from their All Weather Lifeboat to reach the shoreline and search the immediate area.
Hampshire Constabulary requested the assistance of HM Coastguard at 11:50.
UPDATE @ 13:30 – A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary has released a statement saying they were called at 10:28 this morning following reports of a van in the water.
“We were called at 10.28am with reports of a van in the water off Military Road, Freshwater.
“Emergency services are on scene making enquiries.”
UPDATE @ 13:50 – The Hampshire Police Marine Support Unit has now arrived on the scene.
UPDATE @ 16:17 – Police have issued an appeal for information, confirming that the vehicle was stolen and was unoccupied when it left the road.
Read more on this story at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/police-appeal-issued-as-stolen-van-dumped-over-cliff-edge-near-freshwater/.
Handbrake fault I think!
Thank god no one in the van!!
I think as it was stolen, and the thieves will now be laughing at all the fuss this has caused that it is a SHAME they weren’t trapped inside.
Glad that there wasn’t anyone in it but who pays for the recovery?
Has an insurance job been ruled out?
Bit extreme but possible, yet plenty of low life and more to come as our c ou n ci l fill the Island with ever more be n efit breeding hutches.
Rule nothing out.
One less van to drive up your backside on the Military Road. Maybe set up a conveyor belt and shove a few more off…