THE BODY recovered by the Coastguard rescue helicopter that was discovered in the sea by a fisherman off Bembridge Ledge on Saturday (August 14) has now been identified.
The Gazette has learnt that fingerprints were used to reveal who the man was. Island detectives are waiting to inform next of kin before releasing further details.
A search involving the coastguard helicopter, two lifeboats from Bembridge and Sandown, Coastguard search and rescue teams from Bembridge, Newport and the cliff descent team from Ventnor were called into search for clue on how the man had ended up in the water.
A spokesman for MCA Solent coastguard said “A search had been carried out of Redcliffe Bay area and a full search of the beach in Yaverland to Bembridge had been carried out by the teams. A cliff descent team had also recovered a bag believed to belong to the unnamed man and given to the police.” The spokesman went on to say the search had now been called off due to failing light.
