Wightlink car ferry woman found safe after fears she had fallen into the sea
A 2-hour air, sea and shore search was launched in the Solent to find her
A full-scale air, sea and shore search was launched in the Solent on Tuesday 9th February, following reports a woman may have fallen into the sea from the Wightlink car ferry.
The coastguard helicopter and numerous lifeboats spent 2 hours looking for the 30-year-old, who had bought a ticket at the Fishbourne terminal.
The RNLI said:
Cowes RNLi lifeboat was launched just after 2pm to take part in an extensive search of the Solent, where the choppy sea was whipped up by a strong and bitterly cold easterly wind.
Also involved in the search were Ryde and Gosport independent lifeboats, Portsmouth lifeboat and the Lee on Solent coastguard helicopter.
Meanwhile coastguard teams from Bembridge, Ventnor and Portsmouth were tasked to investigate the relevant shorelines.
Eventually the search was called off after police concluded that, contrary to what was first believed, she had after all, disembarked at Portsmouth.