Thanks to Mark from Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat for this report, in his own words. Ed
Vandals who broke into a beach hut and emptied its contents around Sandown caused a sea search involving several groups yesterday.
On Sunday (4th of March) at 09.30, when the crew arrived at the station, a lime green kayak was found directly in front of the station with no one around and no paddle.
We reported it to the Solent Coastguard, but as no kayaks had been reported missing, they asked us to launch and do a search from Sandown up to Luccombe, then back along the shore to Culver cliff. The weather was Force 6 blowing from the South with heavy surf.
Others took part in search
The Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguard teams were also tasked and the Coastguard Helicopter to do shore line searches from Culver to Luccombe.
It was found that a beach hut had been broken into and the kayak thrown into the sea, the paddle was found in Fort Street Sandown and also a trail of vandalism and the police are investigating.
Both kayak and paddle were identified by owner and search stood down.
