The RNLI’s all weather Yarmouth lifeboat was launched at 3.20pm yesterday following a report of a crew member with a head injury on board a yacht off Newtown Creek.

Upon reaching the scene at 3.30pm, the lifeboat transferred two of her volunteer crew members to the yacht to provide medical care for the casualty.

With the arrival of the Search and Rescue helicopter, the lifeboat then manoeuvred away from the yacht to enable the helicopter winchman to be lowered to the lifeboat and subsequently transferred to the yacht.

The casualty was then transferred by stretcher to the lifeboat, winched on board the helicopter and airlifted to Southampton General Hospital. With no further assistance required the Yarmouth lifeboat returned to station at 4.23pm.