Passenger jumps off ferry near Portsmouth Harbour
A search has been launched after a passenger jumped off a ferry near Portsmouth Harbour.
The person was travelling on the Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight when the incident happened at around 10.50am on Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said an "extensive search is being carried out", involving a search and rescue helicopter, two lifeboats, harbour patrol vessels and a Royal Navy vessel.
Our Portsmouth - Fishbourne (car ferry service) and is delayed by up to 30 minutes due to an ongoing incident in the Solent. Please check https://t.co/2WNN4XEalr for further updates.
-- Wightlink Travel (@WightlinkTravel) August 29, 2018
HM Coastguard has asked other vessels in the area to join the search.
Wightlink said in a statement: "On the 10.30am St Cecilia car ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne a passenger was seen to jump overboard, just outside Portsmouth Harbour.
"The crew of St Cecilia deployed the ship's rescue boat and the coastguard is now the lead authority on this matter, with a number of vessels assisting in the search."
