Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed the tragic death of an elderly passenger aboard a Wightlink ferry on Friday, 1 February 2025. The man, believed to be in his 80s, passed away following a medical emergency while traveling on the Yarmouth to Lymington ferry route.
Officers were alerted at 12:45pm to reports of the sudden death onboard the Wight Sky vehicle ferry. Emergency services, including police and the ambulance service, swiftly attended the Wightlink terminal in Lymington. Despite efforts to assist the man, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident caused delays to several ferry crossings, with services between Yarmouth and Lymington affected. Some passengers experienced delays of up to 75 minutes as the emergency situation unfolded. The service returned to its regular timetable by around 5pm.
A police spokesperson confirmed that a file will be prepared for the coroner, and the deceased man’s next of kin have been notified. The authorities have expressed their condolences to the family during this difficult time.
Passengers affected by the delays have been advised, and Wightlink has confirmed that normal operations have resumed.
