UPDATED Emergency services were out in force on Tuesday evening (Oct 22) searching the Itchen for a “possible person in water following a collision on Cobden Bridge”, according to Hillhead Coastguard Rescue Team.
Article continues after this message...
— Lindsey (@LJohnny86) October 22, 2019
Police vehicles were seen on the south side of the bridge just after 8.30pm, pulling up by a car apparently parked facing the wrong way and reportedly abandoned – although police told the Daily Echo there hadn’t been CCTV footage of a collision and there were no reports of injuries.
A helicopter was also deployed, for a long time seeming to hover near the river. It was described on social media as searching the area in a “grid-like” pattern, possibly focusing on river exit points.
The RNLI said that their D Class Lifeboat 'Willet' was also out on the water “following a road traffic accident”.
Calshot RNLI lifeboat launch after fears person in water | RNLI/Laura Bean
They said: "Calshot RNLI D Class Lifeboat 'Willet' was tasked to join a multi-agency search of the water at Cobden Bridge after fears a person had ended up in the water following a road traffic accident.”
It was called by the coastguard “due to the shallow water surrounding the bridge”.
Alongside the Police and Hill Head Coastguard Rescue Team on shore, Calshot's volunteer crew joined Hamble Lifeboat and Bristow Group Helicopter R175 to search the water.
“After an extensive search no persons were found to be in distress and all services were stood down at 11.05pm,” they said.
They added that the call came in just five minutes before the end of the BBC Two series Saving Lives at Sea episode that featured Calshot Lifeboat Station.
A spokpesperson for the Maritime & Coastguard Agency later confirmed:
"Just before 8.10pm yesterday (22 October) HM Coastguard was asked to assist Hampshire Police at a road traffic collision on the Cobden Bridge, Southampton where a person was reported to be in the water. A Senior Coastguard Operations Officer, the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Hillhead, the Hamble lifeboat, the RNLI lifeboat from Calshot and the search and rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent were sent. A full and extensive search took place and no person was found in the water."