A lone sailor was airlifted ashore after his catamaran grounded off Constantine Bay, North Cornwall and he ‘declined to get aboard a lifeboat’.

Volunteer lifeboat crews from Padstow and Newquay RNLI launched to assist the vessel in the early hours of this morning, following reports that it was going ashore near to Trevose Head.

Local Coastguard volunteers were tasked to investigate and were unable to reach the boat from the beach, so the lifeboat was called.

Padstow RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Spirit of Padstow was launched at 12.55am.

On arrival, the lifeboat crew found the catamaran in the surf line and in shallow water, which meant they were unable to reach it.

Newquay RNLI’s Atlantic and D-class lifeboats were also launched to assist. The helm of the D-class carefully navigated the one metre surf and managed to get alongside the vessel, which had now moved further onto rocks, but the casualty declined to get off his boat.

A search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was tasked, and winched the man from the boat onto the beach. He did not require medical treatment.

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A RNLI spokesman said: ‘Conditions included a north westerly 3-4 wind and moderate seas.

‘Unfortunately the lifeboat crews were unable to save the catamaran.

‘Padstow RNLI volunteers returned to station at 3am, with Newquay crews arriving back to their station at 3.30am, giving them a few hours sleep before getting up for their day.’