A woman in her 50s has died after a wave swept her into the sea while she was walking her dog along a coastal path on the Isle of Wight.
She is believed to have been walking along the seafront between Sandown and Shanklin, on the island’s eastern coast, when she was struck by a wave during dangerous weather conditions yesterday morning.
A major search and rescue operation began shortly after 11am, involving police officers, paramedics, Coastguard rescue teams, a lifeboat and a helicopter.
Despite the extensive efforts of emergency crews, the woman’s body was recovered from the water south of Sandown Pier shortly after midday.
The whereabouts of her dog remain unknown.
The tragedy followed a weekend in which severe storms battered parts of Britain, bringing powerful winds, heavy rain and turbulent seas.
Emergency services were alerted to concerns for the woman’s welfare at about 11.15am, prompting a large-scale search along the coast.
Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 375 was sent from its base at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, to search the coastline from the air.
Bembridge RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was deployed as Coastguard rescue teams and other emergency personnel searched from the shore.
A major emergency operation was launched along the promenade between Sandown and Shanklin
Police are investigating the incident, but the woman is believed to have been swept out to sea after being struck by a huge wave
Police closed the coastal walkway, known as the revetment, between Sandown and Shanklin. A cordon was erected at the end of Sandown Esplanade to stop members of the public entering the area.
A rendezvous point was set up outside the Napoleon’s Landing apartment building on the seafront while rescue teams worked to find the missing woman.
The precise circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.
The woman’s next of kin have been informed, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.
The fatal incident occurred just days after Storm Austen and Storm Boelo brought severe weather to parts of the UK, leaving coastal areas facing hazardous conditions.
The Environment Agency issued a flood alert for the Isle of Wight coastline over the weekend, warning that strong winds and large waves could push seawater over coastal defences.
Sandown and Shanklin were among the locations identified as being at risk, along with Yarmouth, Freshwater Bay, Gurnard and Ryde.
Forecasters warned that waves could overtop sea defences and flood exposed esplanades, seafront roads and car parks.
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A further flood alert issued on Sunday warned of possible coastal flooding around high tide, with water levels expected to be higher on Monday morning than those forecast for the previous day.
A major emergency operation, involving police, paramedics, Coastguard Rescue Teams, a lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter was launched
Following the woman’s death, the Isle of Wight Council issued an urgent coastal safety warning, urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution around beaches, sea walls and exposed coastal paths.
Members of the public have been advised to stay well back from sea walls, slipways and cliff edges, while dog walkers have been specifically warned to keep their pets on leads.
The council has also urged people never to turn their backs on the sea or approach rough water to take photographs.
It warned that anyone close enough to feel sea spray could already be standing dangerously near the water.
Residents and tourists have been reminded to check weather forecasts and tide times before heading to the coast, particularly in the aftermath of storms when large waves can continue to pose a threat.
Hampshire Police said in a statement: ‘At 11.17am yesterday (Monday 26 October), our Isle of Wight Ambulance Service partners informed us of a concern for welfare of a woman in the water at Lake.
‘We attended the scene to assist our IOWAS and HM Coastguard partners.
‘The woman, aged in her 50s, was brought out of the water. Sadly, despite the very best efforts of all emergency services in attendance, she was pronounced deceased at the scene.
‘Her next of kin have been updated and a file will now be prepared for the coroner.’
Forecasters have also reported today that they are tracking a third system, Storm Chloe, as it heads towards the UK.
Scientists warn these deadly storms could just be the start of a winter of chaos supercharged by El Niño.
Experts say the powerful weather phenomenon threatens to unleash fierce winds, torrential rain and even snow across the UK over the next few months.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: ‘It’s a very similar situation to Boelo on Monday and Tuesday.
‘In other words, the strongest winds expected to affect northern parts of the UK are expected to arrive on Tuesday.
‘Risks of 70mph wind gusts, yellow warning in force, but of course we’ll be watching this one very closely.’
Do you know what happened? Email lettice.bromovsky@dailymail.co.uk
