The death of a 48-year-old woman from the West Midlands in the sea off Ryde last week is being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious.
As first reported by Island Echo, emergency teams were called into action last Friday lunchtime to reports of a woman in difficulty around 200m off Ryde Harbour.
Sadly, despite being pulled from the sea by Coastguard Rescue 175 helicopter within minutes, the casualty was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at St Mary’s Hospital.
Police have confirmed the woman came from Walsall in the West Midlands. Harrowingly, her next of kin was present at the scene and watched the tragic events unfold.
A file is being prepared for the Isle of Wight’s coroner, Caroline Sumeray.
