Fishing boat left partially submerged off Southsea

Coastguards were called to assist the vessel, which got into difficulty near to South Parade Pier just after 10am today.

It is understood that the fisherman grounded it after hitting one of the concrete blocks of the ant-submarine defences to the east of the pier.

Graham Wade, from Southsea, was walking along the seafront when he spotted the boat not far from shore.

He said: ‘It looked like he had ripped the bottom of the boat.

‘He was about 20 metres offshore near to the Rose Gardens.

‘Apparently he was seen wading to shore shortly afterwards.’

A spokeswoman from HM Coastguard said: ‘We were called at 10.25am to reports of a fishing vessel that was partially submerged to the east of South Parade Pier in Southsea.

‘We have sent Portsmouth lifeboat crew to assist.’

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Pictures: Ross Young Photographers