Falmouth Coastguard is co-ordinating a four-country effort to save an injured yachtsman stuck 120 miles out to sea.
The Dutch national, who is the only person on board the boat, reportedly phoned his wife for help after he suffered a chest wound. After receiving communication from the man's wife, Dutch coastguards contacted Falmouth's team late last night to begin a rescue operation.
A Falmouth Coastguard spokesman has said that the man will be retreived this morning at approximately 11.15am, and added that initially finding the yacht was difficult as he was out of radio range.
"It was clear that the man was a very experienced yachtsman, but it wasn't clear exactly where he was," he said.
"We used other shipping in the area to determine his position and were able to find he was about 120 miles south west of the Isles of Scilly.
"The man had injured himself and it is not clear exactly what has happened except that he has chest injuries".
Due to the yachtsman's location, four countries have been involved to ensure that he is brought to safety.
"Because of his position, a search and rescue helicopter with a paramedic on board has been scrambled from Ireland and a fixed wing aircraft has come in from France to provide cover," said the spokesman. The yachstman was sailing to Portugal when he suffered the injury.
It has not yet been decided where the casualty will be landed for treatment.
The spokesman for Falmouth Coastguard said it was likely that his twin-masted yacht would be abandoned and the owner would then have to make arrangements to recover it.
The Dutch national, who is the only person on board the boat, reportedly phoned his wife for help after he suffered a chest wound. After receiving communication from the man's wife, Dutch coastguards contacted Falmouth's team late last night to begin a rescue operation.
A Falmouth Coastguard spokesman has said that the man will be retreived this morning at approximately 11.15am, and added that initially finding the yacht was difficult as he was out of radio range.
"It was clear that the man was a very experienced yachtsman, but it wasn't clear exactly where he was," he said.
"We used other shipping in the area to determine his position and were able to find he was about 120 miles south west of the Isles of Scilly.
"The man had injured himself and it is not clear exactly what has happened except that he has chest injuries".
Due to the yachtsman's location, four countries have been involved to ensure that he is brought to safety.
"Because of his position, a search and rescue helicopter with a paramedic on board has been scrambled from Ireland and a fixed wing aircraft has come in from France to provide cover," said the spokesman. The yachstman was sailing to Portugal when he suffered the injury.
It has not yet been decided where the casualty will be landed for treatment.
The spokesman for Falmouth Coastguard said it was likely that his twin-masted yacht would be abandoned and the owner would then have to make arrangements to recover it.
