The lifeboat and coastguard helicopter were called in to rescue an injured fisherman, 15 miles off the Kent coast.

The call came in from a commercial fishing vessel early this afternoon, reporting a member of the two-strong crew had suffered a back injury while handling fishing gear.

He was in some pain and needed medical help.

In a complex and delicate operation Margate’s RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was asked to assist the coastguard rescue helicopter, based at Lydd Airport in a rescue mission.

Once on scene the helicopter transferred its winchman, and the lifeboat
transferred one of its crew who is a paramedic with South East Coast Ambulance
Service to the fishing vessel to assess the casualty.

The fisherman was then taken back to shore onboard the lifeboat, before being take to hospital, while an additional lifeboatman was put aboard the fishing vessel to help it get safely back to Ramsgate.

Nick Smith, Deputy Launching Authority Margate lifeboat said: "This was a tricky operation requiring careful planning by all involved.

"The presence of the helicopter paramedic and our own lifeboat crew member who is a paramedic allowed for the best possible care to be provided to the casualty."