COASTGUARDS today stood down their search for a missing woman after a man was plucked from the sea off the Isle of Wight and later pronounced dead in hospital.

The alarm was raised after the pair's rigid inflatable boat came ashore on rocks at Bembridge Ledge yesterday afternoon at around 2.30pm.

The coastguard helicopter lifted a man, believed to be in his late twenties, from the sea after a search was launched and he was taken to St Mary's Hospital, Newport, where he was pronounced dead at about 4.30pm.

Now the search for a 20-year-old woman who also disappeared after the pair's boat was seen travelling at high speed towards Bembridge before coming to an abrupt halt.

Solent Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public at 2.30 pm reporting the incident.

The coastguard helicopter Whiskey Bravo was scrambled and a message broadcast to all shipping to which the Royal Navy vessel HMS Severn responded.

The Bembridge and Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team was dispatched to begin a shoreline search and the Bembridge RNLI all weather and inshore lifeboats have also searched the area.

Lee Fisher, Solent Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination Centre Manager said: "We are trying to ascertain how this incident occurred and at what point these two people fell from their vessel in order that we can narrow down our search area."

The police spotter plane has also been involved in the rescue operation.