A major search-and-rescue operation has been launched in the English Channel after a vessel carrying five people was reported in distress off the south-west coast of England.
HM Coastguard is coordinating the emergency response south-west of Eddystone Lighthouse, which lies approximately 15 miles south of Plymouth.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said it was alerted to the incident shortly after 6pm on Saturday, 29 August.
A Coastguard rescue helicopter has been dispatched to the area along with a fixed-wing search-and-rescue aircraft.
RNLI lifeboats from Plymouth and Falmouth have also been launched as part of the operation.
Local vessels operating in the area are assisting emergency crews.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed that five people are understood to be aboard the vessel.
However, authorities have not yet released details about the type or identity of the vessel or explained what caused it to get into difficulty.
The condition of the five people aboard has also not been confirmed.
The incident remained ongoing on Saturday evening as search-and-rescue teams continued working in the Channel.
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Eddystone Lighthouse stands on the Eddystone Rocks in the English Channel and is an important navigational landmark for vessels travelling off the Devon and Cornwall coastline.
The deployment of both aircraft and lifeboats demonstrates the scale of the response being coordinated by HM Coastguard.
Plymouth and Falmouth RNLI crews cover a large area of the south-west approaches and regularly respond to emergencies involving commercial and recreational vessels.
Search-and-rescue aircraft can provide crews with a wider view of the surrounding sea while lifeboats and other nearby vessels provide assistance at surface level.
Information surrounding the incident remains limited while the rescue operation continues.
Reports making claims about the vessel’s identity, what happened to it or the condition of those aboard should therefore be treated cautiously until confirmed by HM Coastguard or another responsible authority.
Further information is expected once rescuers have established the circumstances surrounding the emergency and the status of the five people involved.
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Sources
Sky News – Vessel in Distress in English Channel as Rescue Effort Launched
Plymouth Plus – Major Rescue Operation Launched After Vessel in Distress Off Plymouth Coast
