Investigation clears up confusion after three hurt in East Cowes boat crash

An investigation by Cowes Harbour Master has confirmed a motorboat collided with East Cowes's Shrape Breakwater, on Saturday night, prompting a major search by coastguards.

It happened just before 9.15pm and involved a 'small vessel'.

HM Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public and, in turn, notified Cowes Harbour Master, the RNLI and a Red Funnel ferry, berthed in East Cowes.

Despite a search by the coastguard helicopter, both around the Shrape and along the river Medina, a boat could not be located.

Cowes RNLI was also involved in the operation and on the land, further searches were carried out by coastguard teams, along East Cowes' seafront.

However, a boat matching the description was subsequently found in a marina in Gosport, with three injured people on board.

Despite initial fears of a second collision at the Hampshire location, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary's Marine Police Unit says it now believes one did not take place there after all.

Three people were taken to hospital and their injuries were described as not life threatening.

Hampshire and IW Constabulary said it would not issue further updates and had passed the investigation to the Cowes authority.