At ten minutes to nine on Sunday evening Solent Coastguard received a 999 call from a concerned gentleman.  The man was concerned for two ladies, they had both gone for a walk with a dog at half past four in the afternoon.

As they had not returned, some four and half hours later, the caller contacted the Coastguard who immediately called out Coastguard search and rescue teams on the Isle of Wight.  The teams were from Ventnor, Ryde Bembridge, Needles and Newport.

The IOW Sector manager was also called out to coordinate the search on the ground. Coastguard helicopter India Juliet was also scrambled to assist in the search from the air.

An extensive search was undertaken from St Catherines Downs to St Catherines Lighthouse in atrocious weather. The Coastguard search teams were also joined by Police and fire service personnel from the Island. Ambulance teams were also on standby throughout the search.

The two ladies in their early twenties were found in a gulley, which they had fallen into, full of bracken and undergrowth at ten minutes past midnight by Coastguards from Ventnor team. They did not have any means of raising the alarm themselves.

The Coastguard helicopter winched the ladies from the gulley into the helicopter. They had suffered minor cuts and bruises, but were wet, hypothermic and tired. They were immediately taken by helicopter to the St Mary’s hospital. The collie dog is back with its owners.

Mick Forsyth-Caffrey, IOW Sector Manager said

“This was an extremely difficult search in atrocious weather, and ardous conditions. It involved all the Coastguard teams located on the Isle of Wight.

We are all extremely pleased that we were able to locate the ladies, and they are now in the care of the medical authorities.