A DRAMATIC  rescue was launched yesterday after a woman went missing off Solent waters.

Rescuers were called by the Coastguard to rescue a woman who had been spotted in the sea off Hillhead.

Gosport Lifeboat was tasked to rescue her by the UK Coastguard.

Gosport & Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS), based at Stokes Bay, was launched at 1am to assist with the search for the woman in the water.

GAFIRS’ independent lifeboat crew joined the search alongside the police helicopter and the Hillhead Coastguard Rescue Team.

Gosport’s independent lifeboat crew searched the waters off Hillhead using handheld infrared cameras and the lifeboat’s onboard FLIR camera.

GAFIRS bridge watchkeeper Allan Heazlton said: “After searching the water for around 45 minutes the woman was found safe and well by the police in Stubbington.”

The operation was GAFIRS 80th of the year and lasted around two hours.