UPDATE: Tragedy at King Harry Ferry: RNLI detail actions to rescue woman, click here

UPDATE: Diver in mask and snorkel tried desperately to save woman whose car had plunged into River Fal from King Harry slipway

UPDATE 6.56pm

The body of an elderly woman has been recovered from the River Fal.

The car in which she was a passenger was reportedly submerged for two hours.

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UPDATE 6.17pm

The car is now out of the water but has been covered in tarpaulin. It is feared that there was a passenger inside. Emergency services are still on the scene.

The ferry service remains temporarily suspended while the incident is ongoing.

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UPDATE 5.53pm

A COASTGUARD spokesman says divers are still searching the car to see if anyone else was inside.

Portscatho coast rescue team, Falmouth rescue team, both Falmouth lifeboats and a helicopter are at the scene and will remain so until given the all clear.

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An ongoing rescue operation is underway after a car came off the King Harry Ferry slipway this afternoon. 

The emergency services have been called and "they are doing everything they can," a spokeswoman from the ferry company said.

Falmouth Coastguard are coordinating the operation and say they are "exceptionally busy".

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said they received a call at 4.10pm reporting a vehicle had gone into the water from the slipway on the Roseland side. The car was not on the ferry at the time.

The driver is understood to have got out safely but it is feared that at least one passenger is trapped. A civilian diver is currently checking underwater to see if anyone else is still in the car. 

Falmouth's all-weather and inshore lifeboats have been scrambled and are at the scene. 

King Harry Ferry have issued the following statement:

"We can confirm that at 16.00 on Wednesday, March 20, a car on the Roseland side on the river Fal entered the water from the slipway.

"The King Harry Ferry was at the Feock side of the river at the time.

"The service has been temporarily suspended and emergency services are in attendance."


More as we have it.