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Missing ferry woman search 'off' Missing ferry woman search 'off'
(about 2 hours later)
A major air and sea search for a woman missing from a ferry during stormy weather off the English south coast has been called off. A major air and sea search for a woman missing from an Isle of Wight ferry during bad weather has been called off.
The woman was last seen about 10 minutes before the Red Funnel ferry docked in Southampton from the Isle of Wight at 0830 GMT. The woman was last seen talking to a man using a gaming machine shortly before the Red Funnel ferry docked in Southampton from Cowes at 0830 GMT.
A helicopter and lifeboats had "swamped the area," a Solent Coastguard spokeswoman said, but found nothing.A helicopter and lifeboats had "swamped the area," a Solent Coastguard spokeswoman said, but found nothing.
The matter was now in the hands of police, she added. Police are investigating the possibility she may have left the boat by car and urged her to come forward.
The south coast is currently braced for severe gales. A winter storm is expected to bring winds of about 70mph. Severe gales are hitting southern parts of England as a winter storm unleashes strong winds along the south coast.
Contact police
"Because she was last seen about 10 minutes before docking, the area we needed to search was very specific," the Solent Coastguard spokeswoman said."Because she was last seen about 10 minutes before docking, the area we needed to search was very specific," the Solent Coastguard spokeswoman said.
"We swamped it with boats and aircraft but didn't find anything."We swamped it with boats and aircraft but didn't find anything.
"The search has been stood down.""The search has been stood down."
Police have described the woman as white, in her late 40s, about 5ft 5in and of medium build.
She was wearing a cream bobbled hat, a thick woollen thigh-length green and blue checked coat and dark trousers, and had a brown handbag.
Police are urging the woman to contact them and are also keen to hear from the man seen talking to her.