POLICE and coastguards were alerted to an incident involving a man at the derelict Totland Pier early this morning after concerns were expressed for his safety.

Coastguard teams from Ventnor, the Needles, and the coastguard helicopter as well as Freshwater Independent Lifeboat were called to the incident which began at around 6am.

The man has since been taken to St Mary's Hospital by ambulance.

UPDATE:

Freshwater Independent Lifeboat's main lifeboat was damaged when launched and now needs repair. The D-Class vessel arrived at Totland Bay at around 7.30am but was stood down by coastguards.

Initiallly, it was thought that a person was being dragged out to sea from Freshwater Bay but the person was later found to be at Totland Bay near the pier.