A BODY found off the coast of the Isle of Wight yesterday afternoon (Sunday) is being treated as unexplained at this time, police have confirmed. 

A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said officers are working to ascertain the identity of the person and how they came to be in the water.

At approximately 5pm, officers were called after a body was located in the sea off the coast of Bembridge.

The body was recovered by the RNLI.

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The death is being treated as unexplained at this time.

At approximately 5pm, Bembridge RNLI was called to the scene - to assist in locating a casualty spotted by Brittany Ferry Cotentin, ten nautical miles south-east of Bembridge.

The Island crew assisted in the search for a possible casualty in the water which had been reported by the Cotentin at around 4.30pm, close to the main shipping channel. 

They said the crew recovered the casualty and return to Bembridge, where they were met by the police and subsequently an undertaker.