THE Russian captain of a coaster was brought to Dover early this morning after he was taken ill on board his ship.

The crew of Dover Lifeboat were called out at about 2.30am to rendezvous with the 6,500-tonne coaster C2C Aquarious two-and-a-half miles south east of Dover.

Two crew members boarded the coaster but the captain refused to go ashore until he had anchored the ship west of Dover.

He was transferred to the lifeboat and then examined by paramedics in a waiting ambulance. He was found to be fit to return to his ship.

The Dover Harbour Board patrol launch returned him to the coaster which then continued its journey from Zeebrugge to Ireland.