A complex, multi-agency operation involving specialist officers from the mainland was carried out on Sunday evening to recover a body from a caravan in Shanklin.
Emergency services were first called to Witbank Gardens on Saturday night, where an individual was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene. Due to the circumstances and the confined location inside a static caravan, a detailed action plan was required to safely remove the man’s body.
Police Search Advisors and Body Recovery Officers from both Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabularies collaborated closely, beginning with the removal of a vehicle from the driveway at around 8:30am on Sunday to allow greater access to the caravan.
Later in the afternoon, firefighters from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were called to assist. Crews from Shanklin Fire Station carefully cut away part of the front section of the caravan to facilitate the recovery.
A private ambulance departed the scene at approximately 6:45pm after the successful completion of the operation.
Witbank Gardens was temporarily closed to allow the complex recovery effort to proceed but has since reopened.
At this time, no further details about the deceased have been released. Police have not confirmed whether the death is being treated as suspicious, and investigations are expected to continue.
