THREE men have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences after they were involved in a boat crash in Cowes Harbour today.

The men were aboard the 20ft fishing boat, Loose Cannon, when it collided with the breakwater in Cowes Harbour, at high speed, at around 3am this morning.

The severely damaged boat had drifted to the Trinity Landing pontoon when three of the four men got ashore – two of them with injuries.

The other man was initially reported missing, which sparked a major air-sea rescue, that involved Cowes RNLI, the Ventnor and Bembridge Coastguard Rescue teams and the coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent.

The man made it ashore and he was taken to St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, with the two other injured men.

Two of the men were discharged from hospital this afternoon and the third, who has chest injuries, is stable, but may need to be transferred off the Island to another hospital, said a spokesman for the NHS Isle of Wight Trust.

The police confirmed they arrested three of the four men on suspicion of drugs offences.

A 39-year-old man from Waterlooville was arrested on suspicion of possessing a class B drug and being concerned in the supply of drugs.

A 34-year-old man from Southsea and a 39 year old man from Petersfield were arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs.

The police said the men have not yet been charged or bailed pending further investigation.

jonm@iowcpmail.co.uk