Emotional scenes at Culver Cliff plunge site

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By Isle of Wight Radio Reporter Thu, 11 October 2012 11:37AM

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Police investigating reports of a van going over the cliff at Culver have confirmed a 20-year-old man from Newport is missing.

A member of the public called police at 2:52am on Thursday morning to report their concerns for the welfare of a man who had left his home in Newport, believed to be driving a van.

Just after 10am on Thursday, three young men arrived at the top of the cliff. According to Isle of Wight Radio's Matt White at the scene, one of them tried to go beyond the police cordon. The officer called them back, and one of the men shouted "It's my brother." The men then left the area.

RNLI crews were launched from Bembridge just before 3.30am, however tide and weather conditions at the time had prevented them from getting close to the vehicle, or confirming if anyone was inside the vehicle.

At 11am on Thursday, a vessel from Hampshire Constabulary’s Marine Unit was en route to the coast off Culver to find out if there is anyone inside the vehicle and confirm what type of vehicle it is.

Police said in a statement: "There is no evidence to suggest suspicious circumstances or a crime at this time, but police must keep an open mind until the vehicle is assessed and recovered."

Isle of Wight Radio's reporter Matt White, at the scene, earlier told us that the weather conditions are horrendous: "I can't see anything further than about 50 yards in front of me at the moment because of thick cloud. The rain is lashing it down and wind's got up, so it's really difficult conditions up here and one police officer said it's been like that since they got here in the early hours of the morning."

Police have closed the road near the entrance to the Viewpoint carpark and motorists can only drive as far as the Culver Haven Inn.

Read the latest from police here