A major air and sea search is under way after a man and a woman fell off their RIB in the Solent yesterday. The man in his late 20s, was airlifted from the sea by Solent Coastguard helicopter yesterday, but was later pronounced dead at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport. The woman, thought to be 22, has still not been found.

Their RIB came ashore at Bembridge Ledge at about 1430 hrs yesterday afternoon. Lee Fisher, from Solent Coastguard, said: ‘We are trying to ascertain how this incident occurred and at what point these two people fell from their vessel in order that we can narrow down our search area.’

Neither of the pair has yet been named. Hampshire police has launched an investigation into the incident.