Multiple coastguard teams were involved in a search off the coast of the Isle of Wight yesterday evening (Thursday, December 28).
HM Coastguard was alerted at 4.17pm to reports of an unidentified object that had been spotted in the sea not far from Sandown Pier.
Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Teams were quickly at the scene alongside Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat.
Due to the rough sea conditions in the strong winds, the Sandown Lifeboat crew returned to base, with a Bembridge RNLI team arriving shortly after 5.50pm to continue the search aboard the all-weather lifeboat.
Search efforts were boosted further with the arrival of the coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent.
However, after extensive searches in very challenging sea conditions, nothing was found.
All coastguard teams were stood down by 8.30pm.
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