Wightlink ferries facing delays after man '˜jumps overboard' outside Portsmouth Harbour

The ferry service has warned passengers that both the car ferry and the FastCat services are being disrupted today. 

A man is said to have '˜jumped overboard' from a Wightlink service outside Portsmouth Harbour this morning. 

A major rescue operation including two lifeboats, a helicopter and multiple coastguard rescue teams were involved in the search. 

Wightlink has said that the Portsmouth to Fisbourne services are being delayed by up to 30 minutes while the FastCat to Ryde is delayed by up to 20 minutes. 

A spokesperson from Wightlink Ferry said: '˜On the 10:30 St Cecilia car ferry from Portsmouth to Fishbourne a passenger was seen to jump overboard, just outside Portsmouth Harbour.

'˜The crew of St Cecilia deployed the ship's rescue boat and the Coastguard is now the lead authority on this matter, with a number of vessels assisting in the search.'

It is understood the ferry was on the Portsmouth to Fishbourne route.

Vincent Winstanley was walking along the beach when he noticed a helicopter in the skies.

The 68-year-old from Southsea said: '˜I saw the helicopter and then all these boats and the strangest thing of all was the ferry that had just stopped in the middle of the Solent.

'˜There was lots of commotion and boats all clearly looking for something.'

For more information about delays to Wightlink ferries click here