Latest news with #AlumBay
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside the struggles of the Isle of Wight cliff-top plunge couple: Friends and neighbours reveal the story of their final weeks - including one who caught a last glimpse before they fell 300ft to their deaths
There are red warning signs at the end of Alum Bay New Road, the most westerly point of the Isle of Wight, where the tarmac meets a public footpath that winds its way along the cliff edge. 'No unauthorised vehicles beyond this point,' reads a notice fixed to a metal barrier, which protrudes halfway across the path.
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Telegraph
Pictured: Wife who died after car plunged 300ft off cliff
The wife of a bus driver who died with her husband when their car plummeted 300ft off a cliff at a beauty spot has been pictured. John and Lynn King died alongside their two Dachshund dogs after driving off a cliff at Alum Bay, close to the Needles on the Isle of Wight, on Friday. Mr King, 66, and 67-year-old Mrs King were found after their Ford Mondeo plunged into the water on the western side of the island. Photographs showed the wreckage of the vehicle in the sea at the foot of the cliff. Mr King had been a network driver for Southern Vectis, the island's bus operator, for two and a half years before his departure earlier this year. Paying tribute, Richard Tyldsley, its general manager, said: 'We are saddened to learn of this tragic event, and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.' Lee Bridle, a fellow bus driver who worked with Mr King in Hampshire, said: 'Such sad news announced today that former work colleague John and his wife Lynn King tragically passed away. May you now both be at rest together, with deepest condolences to your family, friends and work colleagues. R.I.P.' George Gibson, another bus driver, added: 'He was a true friend to me during my low times. I'll miss them both.' Police, fire crews, ambulances and coastguard teams were all deployed to the crash site at Alum Bay at around 7.20pm. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the vehicle had been driving on the road that leads to The Needles, one of Britain's best-known coastal landmarks. As part of the police investigation into the incident, the force said an address in Cowes had been searched by officers. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'Formal identification procedures are ongoing, but next of kin have been notified. A post-mortem examination will take place on Tuesday June 10. 'As part of the ongoing investigation into the incident, which has been referred to the coroner, officers have been carrying out enquiries at an address on Arctic Road, Cowes, to help them to establish what happened.' A one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, named The Round the Island Race, still went ahead on Monday, with the boats passing Alum Bay.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- The Sun
Bus driver & his sick wife ‘who barely left home' died with 2 dachshunds when car plunged 300ft off cliff at UK landmark
A BUS driver and his "frail" wife who tragically died when their car plunged 300ft off a cliff have been identified by locals. John and Lynn King were reportedly with their two Daschshunds when their car plummeted into Alum Bay, near to the Needles, on the Isle of Wight last Friday. 6 6 6 The couple's silver Ford Mondeo left the road close to the world-famous coastal landmark, killing the pair instantly. It is understood that John, who drove for local company Southern Vectis, was a full-time carer for his wife. According to locals, Lynn had rarely been seen out the house for the past two years. Speaking to the MailOnline, one neighbour said: "She wasn't well, I don't know exactly what she was suffering from but I think it was serious. "John was effectively her carer. He was helping his wife to the car and their two Dachshund dogs were with them. 'His wife looked really, really frail. I was surprised to see her out of the house. She was hunched over quite badly and was finding it very difficult to walk." Emergency services were scrambled to Alum Bay New Road, close to the coastal spot, shortly after 7.20pm on Friday. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed on Sunday that two people died in the tragedy. The force explained: "A car, which was being driven along Alum Bay New Road, left the road, came off the cliff top and came to rest in the water below." Cops also closed the neighbouring Needles Landmark Attraction while emergency crews attended the site. Responders were stood down in the early hours of Saturday morning. In a statement released on Saturday evening, a police spokesperson said: "Formal identification has yet to take place, but their next of kin have been notified. "As part of the ongoing investigation into the incident, on behalf of the coroner, officers have been carrying out enquiries at an address on Arctic Road, Cowes." 6 6
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Two dead after car falls 300ft off cliff at beauty spot
Two people have died after a car plunged 300ft off a cliff at a beauty spot. Police, ambulance crews, firefighters and the Coastguard rushed to the scene at Alum Bay in the Isle of Wight just before 7.30pm on Friday. Hampshire Police said in a statement at the time: 'We're currently at the scene of a serious incident in Totland. 'We were called at 7.21pm this evening after a car, which was being driven along Alum Bay New Road, left the road, came off the cliff top and came to rest in the water below.' Pictures of the aftermath show the grey vehicle submerged in water. A member of the Coastguard can be seen searching the shore around the car, which had its bonnet and roof crumpled. A man was hauled to shore and given CPR. On Sunday, police confirmed to Isle of Wight County Press that both victims have been pronounced dead. A spokesman said: 'Formal identification has yet to take place, but their next of kin have been notified. 'As part of the ongoing investigation into the incident, on behalf of the coroner, officers have been carrying out enquiries at an address on Arctic Road, Cowes.' Detectives were carrying out searches at an address in Cowes earlier on Sunday. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Police still probing crash that saw car plunge off 300ft cliff - killing two: Witnesses tell of watching 'man be pulled from wreckage'
Police are continuing to investigate the deaths of two people after a car plunged 300ft from a cliff at a well-known coastal landmark. A car left the road and went crashing into the water at Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight on Friday evening, as holidaymakers looked on in horror. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police confirmed on Saturday evening that two people have died, The Isle of Wight County Press reported. Police have been carrying out enquiries and were seen at an address in Cowes later on in the evening. It has not been confirmed what the scope of their investigation is. Coastguard, police, firefighters and ambulance crews all rushed to the scene, with a man later being 'recovered' from the water. Witnesses watched on as a naked male was pulled from the wreckage and onto the shore. Response teams were then seen commencing CPR on one of the casualties. Photos of the aftermath show the wreckage of the car submerged in the water. With the roof and bonnet crumpled, while coastguard search around it. In a statement released on Friday evening, the police said: 'We're currently at the scene of a serious incident in Totland. 'We were called at 7.21pm this evening after a car, which was being driven along Alum Bay New Road, left the road, came off the cliff top and came to rest in the water below.' Emergency services rushed to the scene and a winchman was lowered from the coastguard helicopter down to the bottom of the cliff. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance landed at Yarmouth where two ambulances, a critical care paramedic and Police had relocated awaiting the arrival of a casualty. Two coastguard teams responded and were stood down in the early hours of Saturday morning. The cliff sits near the world-famous Isle of Wight Needles, which is a row of three stacks of chalk that rise about 30 metres above the water. Near the landmark is a small theme park with a viewing point and chairlift down to the beach, with views of The Needles. The attraction brings in thousands of visitors every year and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island. The Needles Landmark Attraction was closed by police yesterday while emergency teams attended the incident. Access to the beach, an observation tower and the Needles Old Battery fort were also restricted. Despite the incident, a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight, named The Round the Island Race, still went ahead yesterday. Yachts passed Alum Bay, where the car fell. The annual event is organised by the Island Sailing Club. The race attracts more than 1,200 boats and around 10,000 sailors a year. It is one of the largest yacht races in the world.
