Midnight scare as Cowes Lifeboat launches over ‘missing’ ferry passenger
The Cowes Lifeboat was scrambled at 2am after reports of a passenger missing from the Red Eagle Car Ferry. Thankfully, the man was found ashore, and the alarm was a false one. The search was called off, but police investigations continue.
Heavily intoxicated passenger causes concern
Tom Wyeth, Station Officer of The Needles Coastguard Rescue Team, revealed the passenger had been “quite heavily intoxicated” and sick several times onboard. Staff grew worried when he vanished without a trace and nobody saw him leave the ferry at East Cowes.
CCTV clears the mystery – almost
After pouring over CCTV footage, rescue teams found the man had struck up a friendship with two people who appeared to help him leave the ferry. “Though the CCTV doesn’t show him getting into a car, he walked towards the vehicles and we are 99% certain he got in one,” Wyeth said.
Emergency crews stood down just before 3:30am after the passenger was confirmed safe.
