A woman in her 50s has died after a major incident on the Sandown Bay seafront on the Isle of Wight, as Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the UK season, brought winds of up to 84 mph to parts of the country.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary were informed of a "concern for welfare" for a woman in her 50s at 11.17am on Monday, and police, ambulance crews, coastguard rescue teams, a coastguard helicopter and an RNLI lifeboat from Bembridge were called to Sandown Esplanade, south of the pier. A cordon was put in place while emergency teams dealt with the incident.
"Sadly, despite the very best efforts of all emergency services in attendance, she was pronounced deceased at the scene," a spokesperson for the police told The Independent. "Her next of kin have been updated and a file will now be prepared for the coroner."
Reports suggest the woman was walking her dog during stormy weather near the town of Lake.
Storm Boelo has brought gusts of up to 84 mph in Scotland, with 76 mph recorded at St Mary's Airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74 mph at Aberporth in south Wales and 71 mph at Culdrose in Cornwall. Two men were killed by falling trees and hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power. A Met Office yellow weather warning for wind remains in place on Tuesday in Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland.
Isle of Wight Council advised locals to "stay indoors as much as possible" during the storm and recommended keeping away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences. "If you do go out, try not to walk or shelter close to buildings and trees," it added. "Do not drive unless your journey is necessary."
Weather on the Isle of Wight appears to be improving, with the latest Met Office forecast showing sunny conditions, a maximum temperature of 14C and gusts that could still reach 33 mph. Storm Boelo follows Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The death brings the storm's known toll to at least three people, after two men were killed by falling trees, and hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power.
- A Met Office yellow wind warning remains in place in Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland, so hazardous conditions have not fully cleared.
- The Isle of Wight Council's explicit advice to stay indoors and away from trees and buildings shows how dangerous officials considered conditions during the storm.
Background
Storm Boelo is the second named storm of the UK's season, following Storm Austen. It has brought gusts of up to 84 mph in Scotland, 76 mph at St Mary's Airport in the Isles of Scilly, 74 mph at Aberporth in south Wales and 71 mph at Culdrose in Cornwall, along with heavy rain, falling trees and widespread power cuts.
The Met Office names significant storms so the public can more easily follow severe weather warnings such as the yellow alert still in force on Tuesday.
Key Perspectives
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary: said the woman was pronounced deceased at the scene despite the best efforts of all emergency services, and that a file will now be prepared for the coroner.
Isle of Wight Council: advised residents to "stay indoors as much as possible", to keep away from the sheltered side of walls and fences, not to walk or shelter near buildings and trees, and not to drive unless necessary.
Met Office: kept a yellow wind warning in place for Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland on Tuesday, while forecasting improving conditions on the Isle of Wight with sunny weather, a maximum of 14C and gusts that could still reach 33 mph.
What to Watch
- Whether the yellow wind warning is extended or lifted as Storm Boelo moves on, and how quickly power is restored to the hundreds of thousands of homes affected.
- The coroner's process after the woman's death, with a file being prepared following the incident on Sandown Esplanade.
- Further named storms this season: Boelo is the second, following Storm Austen, the first of the season.
