Both Bembridge RNLI’s Lifeboats were launched early this afternoon to locate a 12 foot unmanned boat reported close to the shore in Whitecliff Bay.
RNLB Alfred Albert Williams (Tamar All-Weather Lifeboat 16-17) and RNLB Norman Harvey (Inshore Lifeboat D-778) were both launched this afternoon. The Norman Harvey at 1.35pm and the Alfred Albert Williams at 2.19pm.
The initial tasking by UK (Solent) Coastguard for the Norman Harvey was to investigate a report of the unmanned 12 foot boat close to the shore in Whitecliff Bay. Conditions were very benign so it did not take them long to reach the vessel which had by that time beached. On investigating, they found the outboard engine was warm, the chart plotter active and there was a fishing line over the side. UK (Solent) Coastguard then tasked them to conduct a search of the bay and requested the Alfred Albert Williams to launch to assist.
At 2.22pm Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 175 (which had also been tasked) identified a possible casualty in the water to the west of the Bay. The Norman Harvey quickly located the unconscious casualty who was immediately transferred to the Alfred Albert Williams and having had Rescue 175’s paramedic winched onboard headed at full speed to Portsmouth Camber. Arriving at 2.56pm the casualty was subsequently transferred to an Ambulance.
The Alfred Albert Williams then returned to Bembridge – having transferred the paramedic back to Rescue 175 – and was recovered by 4.45pm.
In the meantime, the Norman Harvey, HMS Blazer, Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat and Selsey’s Shannon Class All Weather Lifeboat (13-20) along with a number of other vessels – assisted by Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Teams ashore – carried out further searches in the area as it was not known how many people had been on the angling boat.
After an intensive search for more casualties, all assets were stood down