Search launched for Isle of Wight Festival swimmer

A special Isle of Wight Festival patrol was carried out by the RNLI over the weekend

A person attempting to swim to the Isle of Wight Festival site sparked a coastguard and lifeboat search.

Cowes RNLI said a person had been reported getting in to the River Medina near the festival site shortly before 20:30 BST on Saturday, but had not re-emerged.

The lifeboat, along with police, coastguard and festival security vessels carried out an "extensive search" of the shoreline. The individual was later found safe within the festival grounds at Seaclose Park.

The RNLI carried out patrols on the river over the festival weekend, which saw more than 50,000 music fans see acts including Sting, Stereophonics and Justin Timberlake.

An RNLI statement said the man had been seen entering the water near Newport Rowing Club.

"In fading light on the longest day of the year, with an outgoing tide, the Cowes RNLI crew conducted a thorough search along the shoreline.

"Just as the crew were directed to stand down, the person in question was located safe within festival grounds."

During the weekend, the RNLI's festival patrols also came across a rigid inflatable boat with faulty navigation lights and with crew members not wearing lifejackets.