EMERGENCY services on both sides of the Solent were called out during the early hours of this morning following a report a ferry passenger heading for the Isle of Wight fell overboard.


Staff became concerned a man in his 30s, a foot passenger aboard Red Funnel's Red Eagle car ferry, had either fallen or jumped into the sea, during the 1.30am crossing From Southampton to East Cowes.

The passenger had been vomiting on board the ship and staff were concerned for his welfare after they were unable to locate him during the crossing, or account for him when the vessel docked at East Cowes. 

The Maritime Coastguard Agency were called, which immediately sparked an air-sea rescue search, with its helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent scrambled and Cowes RNLI lifeboat alerted.

Also assisting in the operation were the Needles Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT), which was tasked to meet the ferry at the East Cowes terminal, at 1.42am, to assist Isle of Wight police officers. 

Following a review of the ferry’s CCTV by the police and members of Needles CRT on board the ferry, the missing passenger was eventually accounted for.

Tom Wyeth, station officer of Needles CRT, said: "The passenger was quite heavily intoxicated and had been sick several times on board the ferry. 

"Staff were concerned for his welfare after he wandered off and couldn’t be found, nor had anyone witnessed him disembark the ferry at East Cowes.

"After trawling through CCTV footage of the crossing, it appears he befriended two people who gave him a lift off the ferry. Effectively, he was a foot passenger when he got on the ship and a car passenger when he got off.

"Although the CCTV doesn’t show him getting into a car, he walked towards the cars and we are 99 per cent certain he got in one."

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said the police were satisfied the man, one of only two foot passengers on board, had been given a lift, and closed the incident at 3.04am.

Reporter: jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk