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Air rescue launched off Ireland Injured sailor airlift under way
(about 2 hours later)
An air rescue has been launched for a sailor injured on a cargo ship hundreds of miles off the west coast of Ireland. A sailor injured aboard a cargo ship hundreds of miles off the west coast of Ireland is being transported to hospital by helicopter.
The RAF said two aircraft and two helicopters were scrambled to aid the Burmese seaman, who was hurt when he plunged 40ft (12m) into a hold. The RAF said the Burmese seaman, who was injured when he plunged 40ft (12m) into a hold, had been winched onto the aircraft.
Two aircraft and two helicopters had been scrambled.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the sailor needed urgent treatment for spinal and cranial injuries.
A doctor from Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth had been put in touch with the ship's crew and provided advice on how to stabilise the injured man, the agency added.
A Nimrod aircraft was launched from RAF Kinloss in Scotland on Wednesday afternoon, said an RAF spokesman.A Nimrod aircraft was launched from RAF Kinloss in Scotland on Wednesday afternoon, said an RAF spokesman.
The US Air Force sent a Hercules plane and two helicopters from its Lakenheath air base in East Anglia.The US Air Force sent a Hercules plane and two helicopters from its Lakenheath air base in East Anglia.
The spokesman said the aircraft were expected to take the injured sailor to a hospital in Shannon, Ireland.The spokesman said the aircraft were expected to take the injured sailor to a hospital in Shannon, Ireland.
It will take around two hours to airlift him to dry land, he added.It will take around two hours to airlift him to dry land, he added.
'Out-of-range'
The RAF spokesman said: "We had an issue with how we pick somebody up from 600 miles off the coast.The RAF spokesman said: "We had an issue with how we pick somebody up from 600 miles off the coast.
"It is out of the scope of most rescue helicopters.""It is out of the scope of most rescue helicopters."
Medical advice
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the sailor had suffered spinal and cranial injuries and was urgently in need of expert medical attention.
The cargo ship, the Anna Rickmers, was 600 miles (965km) off the Irish coast when the accident on the 28,000-tonne vessel was reported.The cargo ship, the Anna Rickmers, was 600 miles (965km) off the Irish coast when the accident on the 28,000-tonne vessel was reported.
It contacted Falmouth Coastguard in Cornwall just before 1900 on Tuesday but the ship had to be directed into a particular area before a rescue effort could be launched.It contacted Falmouth Coastguard in Cornwall just before 1900 on Tuesday but the ship had to be directed into a particular area before a rescue effort could be launched.
A doctor from Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth was put in touch with the ship's crew and provided advice on how to stabilise the injured man, the MCA said.
The rescue operation has been hampered by the vessel's distance from the coast. The planes are needed to re-fuel the helicopters.The rescue operation has been hampered by the vessel's distance from the coast. The planes are needed to re-fuel the helicopters.