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