8 Aug 2015

Man winched from fishing boat

10:56 pm on 8 August 2015

A rescue helicopter winched a sick man from a fishing boat in three-metre swells off the West Coast.

A man who had fallen ill was winched off a fishing vessel off the West Coast this afternoon.

A man who had fallen ill was winched off a fishing vessel off the West Coast this afternoon. Photo: Nelson Marlborough Rescue helicopter

The Nelson Marlborough Rescue helicopter was despatched to the fishing vessel - which was about 30 nautical miles off the coast of Westport - late this afternoon.

A crew member had become ill and an intensive care paramedic was winched on board.

Both were then safely winched off and flown to Westport Airfield where the patient was stabilised before being flown to Nelson Hospital.