Lifeboat rescues three crew after harbour collision

Three people were taken to hospital overnight after their boat collided with an obstruction, believed to be a moored fishing boat, in Cowes Harbour.

A major air and sea search was also launched, amid concerns one of the crew was missing in the water.

The alarm was raised at 3.11am after a 20 foot fishing boat, Loose Canon, with four men aboard, was involved in a violent collision in Cowes Harbour, off East Cowes.

The damaged boat then floated down with the tide to Trinity Landing, Cowes, and the three men now on board were eventually seen by ambulance crew and taken to St Mary’s Hospital.Meanwhile a search got underway of the harbour and Solent for the fourth man believed to be in the water.

As well as the lifeboat, the sea search involved the Maritime and Coastguard helicopter from Lee on Solent and Calshot lifeboat, - all using powerful search-lights.

A search of the shoreline at East Cowes and Cowes was also undertaken, by Ventnor coastguards and police.

One of men taken from the boat had serious head injuries and another suffered a spine injury.

The search was later called off when police had reason to believe that the man in the water had managed to reach the shore on his own.