Man found clinging to capsizing boat off Cornwall is winched to safety
The coastguard was called about four nautical miles off the coast of Land's End
A man has been winched to safety after he was found clinging to a hull of a capsizing boat of the Cornish coast.
The coastguard was called about four nautical miles off the coast of Land's End yesterday evening (14th July).
Sennen Lifeboat were also scrambled and the coastguard rescue helicopter was alerted to the incident.
On the scene a French national was found clinging to the hull of the vessel.
A Royal Navy helicopter, which happened to be in the area at the time, airlifted the man to Treliske Hospital.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "At around 5pm yesterday, HM Coastguard received a notification that an EPIRB had gone off about four nautical miles off Lands End and identified it as belonging to a French national.
"As a result, HM Coastguard coordinated the response, sending Sennen RNLI lifeboat and put our coastguard helicopter on alert to go.
"We also broadcast a Mayday to vessels in the area and two responded.
"They found a capsized boat (possibly a trimaran) with a man clinging to the hull.
"In the meantime, a Royal Navy helicopter which happened to be in the area also responded and winched the man and took him to Treliske Hospital.
"One of the vessels then towed the capsized boat back to Newlyn."