Major Search Launched After Distressed Woman Spotted at Lee on the Solent
Emergency teams sprang into action in the early hours of Saturday after reports of a distressed woman at Hillhead beach, Lee on the Solent. Police, coastguards, and lifeboat crews scoured the coastline during a tense, two-hour search.
Massive Response on the Seafront
Just after midnight, two coastguard rescue teams from Hillhead and Portsmouth were deployed alongside police search dogs and the National Air Support helicopter. The Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) lifeboat also joined the hunt on water.
The alert triggered a full-scale sweep of the seafront and beach, with a 10-strong Coastguard team and volunteers using night vision and heat-seeking gear in the darkness.
Woman Found Safe After Intense Search
“After searching the water for around 45 minutes, the woman was found safe and well by the police in Stubbington,”
— Allan Heazlton, GAFIRS bridge watchkeeper
The UK Coastguard confirmed the search began following police requests and information received about the woman’s distress. Crews wrapped up the operation shortly after 1:40am, leaving the beach once the woman was located unharmed.
