Body of woman in her 70s found on beach on Isle of Wight - Rescue helicopter dispatched to scene
The waterfront in Shanklin (file pic)
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The body of a woman has been found in the water off a beach on the Isle of Wight.
Officers from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary attended the scene in the town of Shanklin to a report that the body of a woman had been spotted in the water
The woman, believed to be in her 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity is currently unknown.
Shanklin is on the south east coast of the Isle of Wight and faces towards the English Channel.
The waterfront in Shanklin (file pic)
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Bembridge and Ventnor coastguard rescue teams, Bembridge RNLI lifeboat and the coastguard rescue helicopter from Lee-in-the-Solent were called out at 9.30am this morning.
A Coastguard spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard responded to reports of a person in the water in Shanklin this morning, September 8.
"Alerted at around 9.30am, Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Teams, a lifeboat from Bembridge RNLI and the coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent were sent to the scene."
A police spokesperson said: "Formal identification is yet to take place, however, her next of kin have been informed and a file will be prepared for the coroner in relation to this unexpected death,"
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Shanklin Beach
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An RNLI spokesperson said the Bembridge RNLI was tasked by the Coastguard at around 9.50am this morning to reports of someone in the water off Shankin.
They added: "The volunteer crew launched their Tamar all weather lifeboat and once on scene assisted in a shoreline search using the lifeboats smaller daughter boat, the Y boat, before they were stood down."