Woman dies after being swept out to sea while 'walking her dog on coastal path'

Published: 05:48 EDT, 27 October 2026 | Updated: 05:54 EDT, 27 October 2026 A woman in her 50s has died after being swept out to sea while on a dog walk in the Isle of Wight. A major emergency operation, involving police, paramedics, Coastguard Rescue Teams, a lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter was launched at the promenade between Sandown and Shanklin at around 11am on Monday. It is believed that she had been walking her dog when she was suddenly swept out to sea after being hit by a huge wave amid the ferocious weather conditions. Police closed the revetment and erected a cordon at the end of Sandown Esplanade to prevent members of the public from accessing the coastal walkway. Tragically, the woman's body was recovered from the water to the south of Sandown Pier shortly after midday following the large-scale search and rescue operation. The UK faced a battering from storms across the weekend but conditions still continued to be dangerous on Monday.Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 375 was scrambled from its base at Lee-on-Solent, Hants, carrying out an aerial search of the waters off Sandown and Lake, whilst Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat also joined the operation.Police closed the revetment and erected a cordon at the end of Sandown Esplanade to prevent members of the public from accessing the coastal walkway.A rendezvous point was established outside the Napoleon's Landing apartment building on the Esplanade as frantic efforts to locate the woman got underway. A major emergency operation was launched at the promenade between Sandown and Shanklin at around 11am on Monday Although police are investigating exactly what happened, it is believed that she was suddenly swept out to sea after being hit by a huge wave A major emergency operation, involving police, paramedics, Coastguard Rescue Teams, a lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue helicopter was launchedHer next of kin have been updated and a file will now be prepared for the coroner.The fatality comes just days after Storm Austen and Storm Boelo brought severe weather to parts of the UK.The dangers of the Isle of Wight's coastline have been brought into sharp focus following a weekend of stormy weather, with large waves and strong winds continuing to pose a risk even after the worst of the storms have passed.The Isle of Wight Council yesterday afternoon issued a coastal safety warning, urging residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution around the Island's beaches, sea walls and exposed coastal paths.People are being urged to keep well back from sea walls, slipways, cliff edges and exposed coastal paths, whilst dog walkers are specifically being advised to keep their pets on leads.The Council has also warned people never to turn their backs on the sea and to avoid walking or taking photographs near rough water, stressing that anyone who can feel sea spray is standing too close.Residents and visitors are being reminded to check weather forecasts and tide times before venturing onto the coastline, with anyone witnessing a person in difficulty at sea urged to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.