A SEARCH for a missing elderly man took place in Culver yesterday afternoon and early this morning.

Local coastguard teams from Bembridge, Ventnor and a police helicopter were tasked with searching for a man who had left home to walk the coastal path earlier in the day.

Bembridge RNLI searched from Long Ledge to Sandown Zoo, with the search area extended at 3am to include Luccombe Chine, Wheelers Bay and Woody Bay.

The man was found alive, but cold, at 4.30am. The local coastguard team took him directly to St Mary's hospital.