Crew from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescued a female boater who was injured by a rogue wave near the Isle of Wight.

The volunteers responded to the medical emergency while returning from Bembridge RNLI's open day on Sunday, August 10.

Reports said the inshore lifeboat Sheena Louise had been out since 11:30 am. After refuelling on the River Medina at 2:10 pm, the team was redirected to assist a woman suffering a severe back injury near West Lepe.

The injured holidaymaker had been travelling on a 3.5-metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB) with a man, accompanied by two friends on a jet ski.

A rogue wave reportedly struck the boat's bow as they were returning from Yarmouth, leaving the woman in significant pain and unable to move easily.

Dramatic footage shows the lifeboat en route to the scene. Two qualified casualty carers assessed the woman, but with a helicopter evacuation ruled out, the crew provided first aid on board.

They then escorted the RIB and the casualty across the water and up the Beaulieu River to Gins Old Farm House, where members of the Hill Head Coastguard Rescue Team and an ambulance were waiting.

The crew finally returned to their station at 5:15 pm, marking one of their longest continuous rescues without a crew change.

Helm Ady Stothard said: 'We spent five and a half hours on the boat, which makes this one of our longest shouts without a crew change. I am proud of the crew for their fortitude and determination. Once we heard the tasking was to a severe back injury, we made the collective decision not to delay with a crew change and to respond immediately.

'It was a difficult rescue as we had very few options available to us, and I am proud of how we responded and happy we were able to get the casualty safely to shore and into the care of paramedics. Adaptability, quick thinking and teamwork are key to successful rescues, and the crew demonstrated that here.'

A rogue wave is a sudden, unusually large and powerful ocean wave that appears without warning and is often much taller than surrounding waves - sometimes twice or more the height of nearby swells - posing a danger to small boats, ships, and coastal areas.

The RNLI saves lives at sea through its 24-hour search and rescue services around the UK and Ireland. With 238 lifeboat stations and over 240 lifeguard units across the UK and the Channel Islands, its volunteers are dedicated to maritime safety.