We’ve been informed by a member of the public that the crew of HMS Brocklesby spotted a body floating off the east of the Island today.
The Hunt-class Minesweeper got in touch with the Coastguard who called in the RNLI lifeboat at Bembridge to carry out the recovery, which the Coastguard tell us took place four miles east of Sandown Pier.
Mike Samuelson, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Bembridge RNLI Lifeboat Station, said: “We can confirm that Solent Coastguard tasked Bembridge RNLI lifeboat for assistance after reports of a body in the sea south of Sandown on the Isle of Wight.
Body transported to Portsmouth Dockyard
“Our volunteer lifeboat crew launched and recovered a body, which was then transported to Portsmouth Dockyard and handed over to police.”
Further drama on the way back
When the crew was leaving Portsmouth Harbour, heading back for the Island, they were diverted to a Sunsail yacht to assist a head-injured crew member. The injured crew member was taken off the yacht and transported to Gunwharf Quays into the care of an ambulance crew.
Missing yachtsman earlier this week
On Monday this week Police issued a request to look out for sightings of Hany Nabil Mustapha, whose recently bought a yacht that had been found with its engine still running, with no-one on board.
Currently there’s no official word if there’s a link.
Update 18:44: Dorset Police say, “Initial identification of the body has confirmed it is that of missing London man Mr Hany Mustapha who was reported missing on Saturday, 27 October 2012 after his boat was found unmanned off the coast of the Isle of Wight.
“The family of Mr Mustapha have been informed.
“Formal identification has not yet taken place.”
Our thoughts are with those affected.
